Framing lumber sales were inconsistent and price trends mixed, leaving buyers and sellers uncertain about the market’s near-term prospects. Many continued to cite weather as the primary culprit holding back a more active pace, with recent wintry conditions giving way to flooding in parts of the Midwest. Trading was also affected by a number of trade shows and conventions that had buyers and sellers traveling and working from their cell phones. The Random Lengths Framing Lumber Composite Price slipped $1.
Week Mar 22 |
Week Mar 15 |
Year Ago 2018 |
|
Random Lengths Framing Lumber Composite Price* | $361 | $362 | $491 |
KD Western S-P-F #2&Btr 2x4 R/L Mill Price | 368 | 382 | 503 |
KD Eastern S-P-F #1&2 2x4 R/L, delivered Great Lakes | 445 | 445 | 600 |
Green Douglas Fir Std&Btr 2x4 R/L (Portland) | 302 | 298 | 525 |
Southern Pine (Westside) #2 2x4 R/L | 405 | 405 | 589 |
KD Coast Hem-Fir #2&Btr 2x4 R/L | 393 | 390 | 530 |
Ponderosa Pine (Inland) #2&Btr 1x12 R/L | 855 | 840 | 745 |
* Weighted average of 15 key items |
Random Lengths Panel Market Report
Structural panel sales lacked urgency as warmer weather failed to energize the market. Improving weather in some key consuming regions had yet to translate to a pickup in OSB sales, and prices eroded. Small discounts were available across northern producing regions. Consecutive days of warm and dry weather boosted confidence in the Southern Pine plywood market. However, sales were mixed amid uneven demand. Western Fir plywood trading was dull in all regions, but especially on the East Coast.
(f.o.b. mill prices) | Week Mar 22 |
Week Mar 15 |
Year Ago 2018 |
Random Lengths Structural Panel Composite Price* | $374 | $377 | $540 |
Southern (west-east) 15/32-inch 3-ply rated sheathing plywood | 392-407 | 392-407 | 525-570 |
Southern (west-east) 15/32-inch 4-ply rated sheathing plywood | 397-420 | 397-420 | 530-575 |
Western 1/2-inch 4-ply rated sheathing plywood | 367 | 368 | 528 |
North Central 7/16-inch Oriented Strand Board | 210 | 215 | 405 |
*Weighted average of 11 key items |