Trends in framing lumber pointed decidedly downward, with cuts deepening in most dry species and a rout befalling green Douglas Fir. The Montreal Wood Convention, a buying show, and the fourth snowstorm in the East in as many weeks contributed to buyers maintaining a low profile and low expectations. Nonetheless, many mill sales representatives worked the phones hard, as they probed for levels that would generate more volume. The Random Lengths Framing Lumber Composite Price tumbled $15.
This Week Mar 23 |
Last Week Mar 16 |
Year Ago 2017 |
|
Random Lengths Framing Lumber Composite Price* | $491 | $506 | $398 |
KD Western S-P-F #2&Btr 2x4 R/L Mill Price | 503 | 522 | 360 |
KD Eastern S-P-F #1&2 2x4 R/L, delivered Great Lakes | 600 | 612 | 442 |
Green Douglas Fir Std&Btr 2x4 R/L (Portland) | 525 | 560 | 372 |
Southern Pine (Westside) #2 2x4 R/L | 589 | 595 | 467 |
KD Coast Hem-Fir #2&Btr 2x4 R/L | 530 | 550 | 395 |
Ponderosa Pine (Inland) #2&Btr 1x12 R/L | 745 | 740 | 615 |
* Weighted average of 15 key items |
Random Lengths Panel Market Report
Structural panel markets were mixed. An OSB producer’s announcement that mechanical issues idled its mill indefinitely jolted markets throughout the South. Deep discounts available earlier in the week dried up quickly. Northern OSB markets were mixed. Southern Pine plywood trading took on a softer tone, and some producers discounted small volumes to extend order files. The sales pace in western Fir plywood was quiet, but some traders reported an uptick late in the week.
(f.o.b. mill prices) | This Week Mar 23 |
Last Week Mar 16 |
Year Ago 2017 |
Random Lengths Structural Panel Composite Price* | $540 | $541 | $399 |
Southern (west-east) 15/32-inch 3-ply rated sheathing plywood | 525-570 | 530-575 | 365-395 |
Southern (west-east) 15/32-inch 4-ply rated sheathing plywood | 530-575 | 535-580 | 365-400 |
Western 1/2-inch 4-ply rated sheathing plywood | 528 | 540 | 405 |
North Central 7/16-inch Oriented Strand Board | 405 | 405 | 308 |
*Weighted average of 11 key items |