U.S. softwood and panel markets - week 4, 2011

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Used with permission granted by Random Lenghts Publications, Inc.
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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


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