American Ash

Firth is one of the largest exporters of American Ash logs and lumber, supplying China and other Asian countries with several grades of white ash sawlogs, veneer logs, and baseball bat logs.

about the species

Fraxinus americana

American Ash, or white ash, is the trade name for Fraxinus Americana. While there are several species of ash growing in the eastern United States, this one attains the best timber quality.

ash export logs
ash tree

The American Ash Tree

Trees grow tall and straight, with spreading crows. White ash has a higher proportion of white sapwood than do the other species, although besides color the lumber is essentially identical. Although the invasive Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is steadily decimating the population of all ash species, our region of northern Pennsylvania and southern New York still offers large pockets of ash timber with little insect damage. Ash is very straight grained with a heavy growth ring similar to oak species. However, the strong wood is less dense than oak, and has a distinctive white to brown color.

American Ash Wood

In recent years American ash sawlogs have been exported to Asia at an astounding rate. The wood has been popular for flooring, furniture, doors and cabinetry in China and elsewhere. Coinciding with tree mortality from Emerald Ash Borer, this increased global demand has been met with a huge supply of logs.

ash logs in woods
ash logs in woods

American Ash Sawlogs

We offer export ash sawlogs in several grades. Our ash logs are available debarked or bark on and they are not sorted for color or heart size. We also offer small quantities of specialty ash logs, such as ash veneer logs and ash baseball bat logs.

tree length ash logs for export

Sawlog Grades

0-1sc Sawlogs

Zero to one side clear are the lowest quality ash logs. These have multiple exterior defects such as limb cutoffs, and they may contain interior wood defects such as figure.

2-4sc Sawlogs

Two/three/four sides clear are the majority of our ash sawlog exports and offers a good mix of quality and affordability.

3-4sc Sawlogs

Three to four sides clear or Prime grade offer the highest quality ash sawlog with minimal defect and excellent yield.

American Ash Lumber

Export prep ash lumber is available in a variety of thicknesses and grades. We offer ash lumber in all traditional NHLA grades from 1 common up to FAS. We have traditionally sawn thicknesses such as 4/4, 5/4 and 6/4 for ash lumber. However, in recent years with the rise of the Asian export market we now offer export lumber in 3/4, 7/4 and other custom thicknesses. Ash export lumber is stickered, or separated with thin lathe boards, it is wax coated and metal banded to ensure a quality product arrives at the destination.

ash lumber packs

Firth’s 45 years of experience with log and lumber sales can work for you.

Firth Exports American Ash

Firth is one of the largest exporters of American Ash logs and lumber, supplying China and other Asian countries with several grades of white ash sawlogs, veneer logs, and baseball bat logs.