Softwood lumber trading was uneven, and traders’ outlooks uncertain, heading into the holiday weekend in the U.S. Southern Pine mills reported a firmer tone to the market after heavy discounting in previous weeks. Canadian S-P-F producers harbored a greater sense of market stability until Thursday’s plummet in futures left buyers and sellers alike wary of further downside potential. In the West, sales in the Coast region lacked spark, and price declines outnumbered gains.
Week May 26 |
Week May 19 |
Year Ago 2016 |
|
Random Lengths Framing Lumber Composite Price* | $406 | $409 | $357 |
KD Western S-P-F #2&Btr 2x4 R/L Mill Price | 376 | 380 | 325 |
KD Eastern S-P-F #1&2 2x4 R/L, delivered Great Lakes | 466 | 472 | 420 |
Green Douglas Fir Std&Btr 2x4 R/L (Portland) | 390 | 392 | 350 |
Southern Pine (Westside) #2 2x4 R/L | 442 | 442 | 404 |
KD Coast Hem-Fir #2&Btr 2x4 R/L | 400 | 415 | 380 |
Ponderosa Pine (Inland) #2&Btr 1x12 R/L | 695 | 690 | 705 |
* Weighted average of 15 key items |
Random Lengths Panel Market Report
Downward price pressure persisted in structural panel markets. OSB prices fell unevenly across North America amid quiet, conservative trading. Downward price pressure intensified in the South. Southern Pine plywood production outpaced demand amid another slow week of sales, leading some mills to offer heavy double-digit discounts. The trading pace in western Fir plywood was steady and comparable to the previous week. Mills willing to cut prices saw business pick up.
(f.o.b. mill prices) | Week May 26 |
Week May 19 |
Year Ago 2016 |
Random Lengths Structural Panel Composite Price* | $404 | $412 | $377 |
Southern (west-east) 15/32-inch 3-ply rated sheathing plywood | 345-375 | 360-385 | 362-382 |
Southern (west-east) 15/32-inch 4-ply rated sheathing plywood | 350-380 | 365-390 | 365-385 |
Western 1/2-inch 4-ply rated sheathing plywood | 406 | 411 | 368 |
North Central 7/16-inch Oriented Strand Board | 323 | 330 | 280 |
*Weighted average of 11 key items |