A midweek surge of orders in many species was the highlight of the framing lumber market. After a slow start, attributed largely to holidays in the U.S. and Canada on Monday, buying picked up on Wednesday afternoon and carried solidly into Thursday. One major exception was Southern Pine, as sales faded from the previous week’s action; traders cited a litany of concerns, from the weather to the economy. Nonetheless, gains in other species nudged up the Random Lengths Framing Lumber Composite Price.
This Week Feb 19 |
Last Week Feb 12 |
Year Ago 2015 |
|
Random Lengths Framing Lumber Composite Price* | $314 | $313 | $362 |
KD Western S-P-F #2&Btr 2x4 R/L Mill Price | 267 | 260 | 319 |
KD Eastern S-P-F #1&2 2x4 R/L, delivered Great Lakes | 360 | 360 | 423 |
Green Douglas Fir Std&Btr 2x4 R/L (Portland) | 312 | 308 | 317 |
Southern Pine (Westside) #2 2x4 R/L | 379 | 383 | 428 |
KD Coast Hem-Fir #2&Btr 2x4 R/L | 303 | 298 | 332 |
Ponderosa Pine (Inland) #2&Btr 1x12 R/L | 670 | 665 | 665 |
* Weighted average of 15 key items |
Random Lengths Panel Market Report
Structural panel trading gained momentum later in the week. Extended OSB mill order files and steady shipments to job sites prompted buyers to step up their purchasing, and activity intensified as the week progressed. While some Southern Pine plywood producers opened to counters in early trading, those had dried up by Friday morning. Strength was most evident on the westside. Western Fir plywood mills sold steadily, but the volumes and prices at which they took place varied widely.
(f.o.b. mill prices) | This Week Feb 19 |
Last Week Feb 12 |
Year Ago 2015 |
Random Lengths Structural Panel Composite Price* | $346 | $343 | $382 |
Southern (west-east) 15/32-inch 3-ply rated sheathing plywood | 365-393 | 365-393 | 440-480 |
Southern (west-east) 15/32-inch 4-ply rated sheathing plywood | 370-393 | 370-393 | 445-490 |
Western 1/2-inch 4-ply rated sheathing plywood | 330 | 337 | 418 |
North Central 7/16-inch Oriented Strand Board | 223 | 213 | 195 |
*Weighted average of 11 key items |