Characteristics of the eastern grade hardwood sawmilling industry

This paper presents a current analysis of an important segment of the hardwood lumber industry termed “grade mills” or sawmills that primarily produce lumber graded under National Hardwood Lumber Association rules. The analysis found considerable differences between mills that use bandsaws for initial log breakdown (band mills) and mills that use a circle saw for initial log breakdown (circle mills). On average, band mills were found to be larger than circle mills, have a greater kiln-drying capacity, and export a higher proportion of lumber relative to production. The analysis also found that mills that use high-cost, computerized edgers and bin sorters are more likely to be band mills. A regional analysis of this industry showed that mills in the Southern and Appalachian regions are larger than those in other regions of the eastern United States. However, New England mills exported proportionally more lumber than mills in other regions, while firms in the Midwest had considerably greater dry-kiln capacity.

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