The countries in South America where we buy our Ipe Decking have very specific buying seasons regulated by governmental and environmental controls. This means we are buying all our Ipe lumber for the entire year right now and the yard is filling up fast. We are really excited about the quality of this Ipe and feel confident we will be able to supply all of our customers with the same sizes and high quality they have come to expect from us. However, buying stock for an entire year’s worth of orders all at once can put a strain on yard storage and the standard flow of lumber through the yard. Of course, fronting the cost for an entire year supply of such a popular species all at once can be difficult for even the largest operations.
With export regulations what they are, buyers can expect Ipe prices to be at their best this Spring while inventory numbers are high. As the year wears on and our inventory begins to drop and more orders come in from our retail customers, prices will naturally rise. The question every year is how high the Ipe price will climb. Surprisingly, it keeps going up each year. Keep this in mind as your clients come to you seeking a new Ipe deck in October or November. Supplies will be low and while we will maintain our high quality, it is possible that prices may go up either driven by us or from one of our customers. Time will tell if the demand on Ipe will continue or if the increased costs of importing mixed with set buying seasons will finally drive away consumers in favor of a more affordable and easy to obtain species.
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