Sales slumped and many framing lumber
prices sagged. Bad weather in the Upper Midwest and East caught most of
the blame, while traders were also looking for offshore demand to kick
back into gear amid a modest start to the year. Softness was evident in
all key framing lumber species, and the Random Lengths Framing Lumber
Composite Price slipped $2, its first retrenchment since early
December. Many producers chose to wait out the downturn, reasoning that
customers would have needs to cover when the weather clears.
|
Week
Jan 28 |
Week
Jan 21 |
Year Ago
2010 |
Random Lengths Framing Lumber Composite Price* |
$305
|
$305 |
$284
|
KD Western S-P-F #2&Btr 2x4 R/L Mill Price |
299
|
309
|
250 |
KD Eastern S-P-F #1&2 2x4 R/L, delivered Great Lakes |
383
|
385 |
335
|
Green Douglas Fir Std&Btr 2x4 R/L (Portland) |
262
|
268 |
228 |
Southern Pine (Westside) #2 2x4 R/L |
334
|
329 |
294
|
KD Coast Hem-Fir Std&Btr 2x4 R/L |
295
|
300
|
252
|
Ponderosa Pine (Inland) #2&Btr 1x12 R/L |
575
|
575
|
640
|
* Weighted average of 15 key items |
Structural panel markets were in
retreat. Eroding order files in OSB forced several manufacturers to
search more aggressively for orders. Another week of two-tiered pricing
in Southern Pine plywood forced a couple of producers to lower their
sights. They chopped quotes on rated sheathing and sought counters to
compete with secondaries' prices. One major western Fir plywood
producer cut quotes at midweek to spur sales of sheathing and
underlayment.
(f.o.b. mill prices) |
Week
Jan 28 |
Week
Jan 21 |
Year Ago
2010 |
Random Lengths Structural Panel Composite Price* |
$298
|
$306
|
$293
|
Southern (west-east) 15/32-inch 3-ply exterior sheathing plywood | 295-325 |
303-325
|
306-317
|
Southern (west-east) 15/32-inch 4-ply exterior sheathing plywood |
315-340
|
320-340
|
313-330
|
Western 1/2-inch 4-ply exterior sheathing plywood | 315 |
325 |
295
|
North Central 7/16-inch Oriented Strand Board | 195 |
215
|
203
|
*Weighted average of 11 key items |