Traders labeled the framing lumber market as "dull" or "lackluster," even as many prices rose, largely in response to seasonal gains in consumption and constrained output at the mills.Traders sensed that the latter was the ultimate key to any price support. The former factor was viewed as relative, as the release of housing starts data for June showed a 27% decline from a year ago -- and a 43% dive in the single-family sector. Against the backdrop of bearish economic news, the Random Lengths Framing Composite increased $3.
Week
Jul 18
Week
Jul 11
Year Ago
2007
Random Lengths Framing
Lumber Composite Price*
$267
$264
$298
KD Western S-P-F #2&Btr 2x4 R/L
Mill Price
262
262
272
KD Eastern S-P-F #1&2 2x4 R/L,
delivered Great Lakes
340
330
358
Green Douglas Fir Std&Btr 2x4
R/L (Portland)
192
190
242
Southern Pine (Westside) #2 2x4 R/L
289
290
299
KD Coast Hem-Fir Std&Btr 2x4 R/L
245
242
270
Ponderosa Pine (Inland) #2&Btr
1x12 R/L
463
470
675
* Weighted
average of 15 key items
Structural panel markets were soft. Demand for OSB was muted, and
prices in most regions worked lower. By Friday morning, a few mills
still had loads available for shipment next week. Most Southern Pine
plywood producers accepted modest price concessions to keep product
flowing. Discounts were limited to $5-10 in most cases. At least one
major western Fir plywood producers entertained modest discounts on
sheathing and underlayment to build order files.
