The Potential Effects of Tariffs on Oregon’s Pole Building Industry and How Locke Buildings Is Navigating It
The pole building industry in Oregon, like many others, faces challenges from the global market. Although Locke Buildings does not directly purchase metal from China, it’s important to understand how tariffs—particularly on steel and aluminum—can still affect our pricing. In this blog post, we’ll break down the potential impacts of tariffs on both metal and wood costs, and how Locke Buildings is navigating these changing market dynamics.
Tariffs and Their Ripple Effect on Metal Prices
While Locke Buildings does not source its metal from China, tariffs imposed on Chinese steel and aluminum imports still have a far-reaching impact. The reason for this is the interconnected nature of the global steel market. Tariffs on imported metal can drive up the cost of steel and aluminum in North America by restricting the supply of cheaper foreign metal. With less supply, domestic producers often increase their prices to meet demand, causing an increase in overall material costs.
For companies that rely on metal components—such as the steel used in our pole buildings—these price hikes can be unavoidable. Even if we don’t purchase directly from China, the overall shift in pricing from domestic suppliers can affect the cost of materials we use in our buildings. This means that, despite our efforts to maintain competitive pricing, the economic effects of tariffs on steel and aluminum can trickle down and affect our customers as well.
The State of Wood Costs: A Sweet Spot for Customers
Fortunately, not all building materials are affected in the same way. Wood, which plays a significant role in our pole building projects, has been holding steady at favorable prices. After a period of inflationary pressure on lumber costs, wood prices have recently experienced a much-needed stabilization. This offers a bit of relief in the face of rising metal prices and provides an opportunity for customers to get the best value for their investment.
At Locke Buildings, we are currently in a position where we can take advantage of this “sweet spot” in wood pricing. The steady pricing of lumber allows us to continue providing high-quality structures without passing on significant cost increases to our customers, at least in regard to the wood components.
How Locke Buildings Is Responding to Market Changes
At Locke Buildings, we’ve always prided ourselves on delivering high-quality, affordable pole buildings to our customers. While tariffs on steel and aluminum may present challenges, we’re actively working with suppliers to secure the best possible pricing. We maintain strong relationships with domestic and international suppliers, ensuring that we can mitigate the impact of price fluctuations as much as possible.
Additionally, because we use both wood and metal in our structures, the steady pricing of lumber allows us to offset some of the costs incurred by rising metal prices. We’re committed to keeping costs manageable while maintaining the high standard of service and quality our customers expect.
What Does This Mean for You?
While the pole building industry in Oregon and beyond may face some hurdles in the coming months due to the shifting metal prices, you can rest assured that Locke Buildings is doing everything we can to keep pricing competitive. Our team is closely monitoring material costs and working with trusted suppliers to ensure that we’re always offering the best value.
If you’re planning a pole building project, now might be an excellent time to get started—especially with the favorable wood pricing we’re seeing today. While the situation around metal tariffs is dynamic, we will continue to adapt and find ways to minimize cost increases for our customers.
What is Next?
Even though Locke Buildings doesn’t directly purchase metal from China, tariffs on steel and aluminum imports can still affect pricing in the broader market. That said, we are fortunate to be in a position where wood prices remain stable, allowing us to keep costs down for our customers. Our team is actively managing these challenges and is committed to providing high-quality pole buildings at the best value possible.
If you have any questions or are considering a new pole building, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’re here to help guide you through the process and ensure your project stays on track—both in terms of budget and timing.
Stay tuned to our blog for updates on the latest trends in the pole building industry and tips for your next construction project.
At Locke Buildings, we are committed to providing high-quality products at competitive prices. However, the impact of these tariffs will significantly affected the cost of steel and other essential materials. We strive to minimize the effect on our customers, price increases are necessary to maintain the quality and reliability you expect from us.
If you are considering a project in the near future, we encourage you to lock in current pricing as soon as possible before these changes take effect. Our team is happy to assist you with any questions or provide updated quotes based on your needs.
We encourage you to contact us soon.
Call Monday thru Friday 7am to 5pm PST – 503-630-3183