Random Lengths Lumber Market Report
January remained a bear in framing lumber markets. Prices continued to soften as measured demand and growing inventories prompted mills to take a more aggressive approach to sales. Most producers remained confident that their customers needed to buy, but were waiting for prices to find a bottom. A pickup in sales Wednesday had traders debating whether a bottom was at hand. With all key framing species giving ground, the Random Lengths Framing Lumber Composite Price fell $10, to $367.
Week
Jan 23 |
Week
Jan 16 |
Year Ago
2014 |
|
Random Lengths Framing Lumber Composite Price* |
$367
|
$377 |
$404
|
KD Western S-P-F #2&Btr 2x4 R/L Mill Price |
312
|
321
|
376 |
KD Eastern S-P-F #1&2 2x4 R/L, delivered Great Lakes |
418
|
430 |
471
|
Green Douglas Fir Std&Btr 2x4 R/L (Portland) |
305
|
310 | 400 |
Southern Pine (Westside) #2 2x4 R/L |
440
|
456 |
448
|
KD Coast Hem-Fir Std&Btr 2x4 R/L |
335
|
342
|
404
|
Ponderosa Pine (Inland) #2&Btr 1x12 R/L |
665
|
665
|
805
|
* Weighted average of 15 key items |
Random Lengths Panel Market Report
Structural panel sales were lackluster. Prices of OSB slowly eroded across all producing zones, as supplies outstripped demand. Large, block deals were a rarity, but several producers had loads available for quick shipment. Southern Pine plywood sales were so-so for most producers. A few reported a mild pickup, helped by price concessions. Demand for western Fir plywood remained feeble, although pockets of activity emerged in the latter half of the week.
(f.o.b. mill prices) |
Week
Jan 23 |
Week
Jan 16 |
Year Ago
2014 |
Random Lengths Structural Panel Composite Price* |
$379
|
$388
|
$360
|
Southern (west-east) 15/32-inch 3-ply exterior sheathing plywood | 430-460 |
443-470
|
360-395
|
Southern (west-east) 15/32-inch 4-ply exterior sheathing plywood |
430-460
|
445-475
|
360-395
|
Western 1/2-inch 4-ply exterior sheathing plywood | 395 | 410 |
365
|
North Central 7/16-inch Oriented Strand Board | 197 | 202 | 222 |
*Weighted average of 11 key items |