Western Hardwood Association: Turning the Corner in 2026

By DAVE SWEITZER, the Secretary/Manager of Western Hardwood Association

As we head into the first quarter of 2026, there’s no question the hardwood industry is still navigating some tight corners—but we’re also seeing signs that the market is beginning to settle and even open up in places. It’s not a boom, but it is movement, and for many of our members, that’s a welcome shift.

WHAT WE’RE SEEING GOING INTO Q1

Interest rates are finally showing some discipline, and that’s giving the housing sector a little breathing room. Demand isn’t roaring back, but it’s stable—and in this environment, stability is valuable. Exports continue to be challenged by tariffs and uneven global demand; however, domestic buyers are showing genuine interest in reliable, regional sourcing.  And one thing is clear: mills that diversified—remanufacturing, specialty runs, finger-jointed products—are entering 2026 in a stronger position. That flexibility is paying off.

WHA’S WORK IN 2025 THAT’S HELPING NOW While 2025 brought its challenges, WHA made it a productive year. Here are a few highlights:

• We expanded our market reporting so members had clearer, timelier snapshots of what was really happening—not rumors, but data.

• Our annual conference brought together mill owners, equipment suppliers, buyers, and young professionals who are stepping into leadership roles.

• We strengthened our partnerships with allied associations, which enabled us to coordinate messaging on tariffs, transportation issues, and timber supply.

• And we kept the Pacific Northwest hardwood story front and center—local jobs, sustainable forests, and products people use every day.

Those efforts didn’t solve every challenge, but they kept our industry visible, connected, and equipped with better information.

WHAT WE EXPECT IN EARLY 2026

We’re entering Q1 with cautious optimism. It’s an election year, so there will be policy noise, but we’ll be tracking it and keeping members informed. We anticipate continued movement toward domestic sourcing and an increase in requests for sustainability documentation. Hardwood producers have a great story to tell here—we need to keep telling it.

ADVOCACY AND POLICY PRIORITIES WHA will be focused on:

• Tariffs and their real impacts on mill competitiveness

• Transportation and logistics conditions

• Timber availability and land-management decisions

We’ve built strong relationships with legislators and regulators by presenting facts, not speeches. That approach continues in 2026.

STRENGTH IN COLLABORATION

The partnerships we strengthened in 2025 made a meaningful difference. Shared data, joint events, coordinated advocacy—it all helps amplify the hardwood industry’s voice. We plan to push even harder on this front in 2026.

WHAT MEMBERS SHOULD BE PREPARING FOR Here are the big themes we’re encouraging members to watch:

• Buyers shifting toward sustainable, traceable, domestic materials

• Growth in value-added and specialty hardwood markets

• The need for diversification to stay resilient

None of this is new, but the pace of change is speeding up.

WHA will continue to do what we do best—providing practical insights, advocating for the industry, and working with partners to ensure hardwood producers have a strong, unified voice as we head into Q1 and beyond.