So, you are done growing timber on your land and are now ready to reap the rewards of years of hard work. But, how do you ensure to get the best or value for your bulk timber sales? Having a brief knowledge of the timber selling process might help.
We at CameroonTimberExportSarl help new timber businesses & landowners get the best out of their timber harvesting activities. Whether you need help with finding out the best timber quality or type to harvest or want to know the right process to sell your timber for the best value, we are here to help with our timber sales guide.
How Much Money You Can Make by Selling Your Timber Harvest Will Depend on a Number of Things, Including:
- The time when you sell it;
- How you sell it;
- Whom you sell it to;
- Timber species;
- size;
- And of course, the quality & quantity of timber.
Having the right people to assist you can make all the difference. For example, we have been in the timber industry for more than 30 years and have the specialized knowledge required to assess the value of timber based on species, volume, quality and other factors.
This timber sales guide takes you through the best process of marketing and helps you in selling timber for the best price, with or without professional help.
Timber Selling Process – the Best Route to Take for Maximum Gain
Before you could start selling your timber, it’s important to know about a few things, including the timber buying/selling process, methods, people involved in the process, how to measure timber, price conversions between different log rules, factors affecting the timber price, etc.
People in the Timber Buying/Selling Process –
A typical timber buying/selling process will have the following roles:
- The owner/seller
- A buyer/broker
- A forester or legal advisor
- A mill or manufacturer
Timber mills or manufacturers usually purchase their timber from intermediaries (timber buyers) who buy it from private landowners. Brokers sell the timber to their preferred mills after making a decent profit. Alternatively, owners can directly sell to manufacturers/mills, but that can be a complex and time-consuming process. And the broker also plays the role of determining the right timber value based on its quality, quantity, age, etc.
A seller can choose to sell timber on a ‘per unit’ or ‘lump sum’ basis. The price of the per-unit timber or the whole lot will be determined accordingly.
The timber measuring process can take considerable time, depending on the person doing it. Some buyers/sellers will measure each merchantable tree individually in order to calculate the entire volume of the lot/stand. Others work on the sampling mechanism, where a systematic sample is taken that represents the entire lot.
When measuring a tree, the person will usually measure two parameters –
1) The tree diameter at a height of 4.5 feet above the ground line, i.e. diameter at breast height or DBH,
2) The merchantable height of the tree.
Knowing about the factors affecting timber prices is also important in order to be able to determine the right price. These include timber species, type, quality & size, location, volume, competition in the market, etc.
Then, the next step is to market timber, i.e. get the word out about your timber harvest and let potential buyers know.
The timber selling process may sound complex, and it actually is, which is why we strongly recommend seeking professional assistance, especially if you are a new timber owner or seller.
Why Is Professional Help (From an Experienced Timber Supplier or Forester) Important?
Even though it’s possible to sell your timber on your own without the assistance of an expert, hiring professional help will ensure a smooth and profitable timber sales experience.
Professional timber suppliers and companies have good knowledge of the market and have experience in selling timber for the best price. They can help determine the right value of your timber harvest by assessing its quality, age, etc. Also, they can help market and sell the bulk timber to the right buyer for the right price.
For example, we at CameroonTimberExportSarl help local landowners throughout the timber harvesting process, from selecting the right timber species to growing and harvesting it, logging and processing, and then selling to the highest bidder.
We have our own sawmill in Douala, Cameroon where we process wood into the timber on behalf of hundreds of our partners and clients through the country and then transport it to buyers’ locations all over the world.
To know more about our timber-related services and to check out the timber species we export globally, visit the website cameroontimberexport.com.
