Clemson Cooperative Extension CUINTHEWODS
UPDATING SOUTH CAROLINA STUMPAGE PRICES By Puskar Khanal Many landowners have heard the term stumpage Several factors impact the stumpage prices for both price but may not be sure about its meaning. sawtimber and pulpwood. Those factors include the Stumpage price refers to the price a timber buyer overall economy and housing market conditions, as will offer landowners for standing trees. In general, well as, local environments such as accessibility, sawtimber, which includes larger standing trees with terrain, sale size, tree size and quality, and distance a diameter over 10 inches suitable for making to the nearby mills. Managed timber stands that lumber or other structural products, will get a higher produce quality trees that are large, straight, and price than pulpwood size trees which are smaller have clear logs (logs without knots or branches) standing trees less than 9 inches diameter. generally get a higher price. That is because these logs can be used for lumber, veneer, or export Sawtimber stumpage price trends: products. So, properly managed trees that are in On average, statewide pine sawtimber prices good health and condition would likely be of higher were $23.56/ton in the 4th quarter of 2019. Mixed value than unmanaged trees. Trees that are blown hardwood sawtimber prices were $24.86/ton on down or broken during hurricanes or ice storms also average statewide in this quarter. See figure 1 on the have a residual value, but their value would be next page for a graph of SC sawtimber prices. somewhat less than standing trees.
Pulpwood stumpage price trends: One common mistake some landowners make while On average, statewide pine pulpwood prices selling their timber is to accept the first offer, were $9.36/ton in the 4th quarter of 2019. Mixed without waiting for other offers. Competitive hardwood pulpwood prices were $8.80/ton on bidding by timber buyers tends to assure that fair average statewide in this quarter. See figure 2 on the market value is offered for your timber. next page for a graph of SC pulpwood prices. For more information, please refer to the SC Forestry Market Quarterly Updates Archive, https://www.clemson.edu/extension/timber-market/
PAGE 1 FEATURED IN CU IN THE WOODS SPRING 2020 EDITION S.C. State,, ,· de Sa ,1thnb e1 Prices
26.5 Pin S wtlmb -r 26 Mixed H rdwood 25.5
=0 25 t::' ~ 24.5
24
23.5
23 Ql ' 19 Q2'19 Q3' t 9 Q4'19
Figure 1. Graph of SC sawtimber prices.
S.C. State,vide Pulp, vood Prices
1 1.5
11
l O.5
9' --e- Pine Pullpwood 8 _5, Mixed Hardwood ! 8 Ql '19 Q2' 19 Q3'19 Q4'19
Figure 2. Graph of SC pulpwood prices.
This article was featured in CU IN THE WOODS Spring 2020 Edition, you can view the full newsletter at: https://www.clemson.edu/extension/forestry/newsletter/newsletter_files/2020-spring-forestry-newsletter
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