Since the start of 2025, Eastern Yellow Poplar prices have been increasing. Since the 1st of 2025, the #1 Common Poplar KD prices have risen by 5%. The price increases, primarily due to lower production, come as overseas furniture manufacturers return to work after their Lunar New Year holiday. With the business outlook more optimistic this year over last, especially for the latter half of the year, manufacturers should watch closely how availability is tightening and plan to move to Alder as an alternative.
Why Alder? Our new Cabinet Plus grade compares favorably with the #1 Common Yellow Poplar prices and is a better grade. Cabinet Plus contains our old Superior Value grade, which the rules dictate an 83-1/3% cutting yield in 4” x 3’ or 3” x 6’ cuttings, combined with Cabinet that contains 3” x 3’ or 4” x 2’ two-face clear cuttings. So essentially Cabinet Plus contains the better part of the #1 Common grade and some Sel&Btr as compared to Eastern hardwood rules. For some, productivity sawing up #1 Common Poplar might be slightly higher because it is wider and longer. However, that is more than offset by the consistent color you get in Alder vs. battling the rainbow of color in some Yellow Poplar.
Very few companies can consistently supply large volumes of a single species. Even fewer can supply them from the West Coast on 18-day shipments to Asia, where some of this lumber will ultimately land. The first manufacturers to move to the new Cascade Cabinet Plus grade will find we make enough volume to supply their needs consistently. While Alder prices are seeing some upward pressure, Cascade is also a committed supplier, and our long-time customers know that once they are in a supplier/customer relationship with Cascade, we are committed to ensuring their needs are met. The key here is to be one of the first, as there are limits on the volumes we can supply.
With Cascade, you can take supply chain concerns off your list and call a single manufacturer to supply volume. As referenced here last week, North American hardwood production is at record lows, so manufacturers should move now to secure their supply chains for the balance of 2025.
