baltic birch shortage ??

wiskytango | Posted in Wood and Materials on May 13, 2007 03:03am

I was in the lumber store today and was trying to buy some 12 mm baltic birch and the guy told me that there was a huge shortage because there was never a deep freeze in the reign that the birch is harvested in so they are running real short. Anyone of you hear this? Just wondering if the guy was pulling my chain.

Replies

Scrit | May 13, 2007 01:35pm | #1
More likely is the volumes of birch plywood now being consumed by China
hammer1 | May 13, 2007 04:16pm | #2
It's true for part of Russia. Indonesia and Malaysia are flooded, China is seeing currency changes and there is trouble making long term commitments with mills. Finland has had changes in economics as well as some kind of pricing rule changes. There are other factors that all add up to lower supply and higher prices. Right now there seems to be plenty of it around here. Most of the issues were back in March with weather and also the Chinese New Year in February. Production should be back to normal by now. As far as Russia is concerned, things will depend on how many logs they can harvest in a shortened season.

Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
Jfrostjr | May 13, 2007 04:21pm | #3
Woodpeckers just had a special on "Baltic birch". I don't know if it still on.

Frosty
JohnWW | May 13, 2007 07:00pm | #4
I can't tell you if it is true, but I can tell you why the lack of freezing weather would affect the harvest.

Many northern forests have soft spongy forest floors and marshland. The only time that logging equipment can move around in these areas is when the ground has frozen. If the winter is mild the ground won't freeze and logging has to be curtailed.

John White, Shop Manager, Fine Woodworking Magazine
desertmaster | May 13, 2007 08:26pm | #5
Wisky,

Same thing with me. Yesterday I was in my favorite place to spend a Saturday morning (Reel Lumber, Riverside, CA) needing 1/2 Baltic Birch to make drawers with. The bin holding the 5 X 5 sheets was empty, note inside said "out of stock". Guy at the help counter said there supplier blamed the weather in Russia. Funny, though, they had plenty of same thickness in 4 X 8 sheets; looks to me to be the same quality stuff, I'll know when I start cutting it. The price though, was a lot higher. Had been buying the 5X5 s for around $25 per sheet; 4X8s : $52 each. Gary