Amid bearish sentiment about the housing market, many framing lumber prices continued to gain steadily on tightened supplies that stemmed from mill shutdowns and protracted curtailments. Inventories were thin across the distribution pipeline, and buyers at all levels of the market were intent on keeping them that way. The upside for sellers, however, was the need for buyers to replenish regularly. The Framing Lumber Composite Price edged higher for a third straight week.
Week
Jul 25
Week
Jul 18
Year Ago
2007
Random Lengths Framing
Lumber Composite Price*
$270
$267
$292
KD Western S-P-F #2&Btr 2x4 R/L
Mill Price
266
262
259
KD Eastern S-P-F #1&2 2x4 R/L,
delivered Great Lakes
345
340
340
Green Douglas Fir Std&Btr 2x4
R/L (Portland)
188
192
245
Southern Pine (Westside) #2 2x4 R/L
289
289
294
KD Coast Hem-Fir Std&Btr 2x4 R/L
245
245
267
Ponderosa Pine (Inland) #2&Btr
1x12 R/L
455
463
675
* Weighted
average of 15 key items
Structural panel sales were mixed. OSB market activity and price trends
varied widely from region to region. The Northwest and Western Canada
got the most play. In most instances, Southern Pine plywood producers
maintained order files, which typically reached into the week of August
4. Prospects for a surge in sales stemming from Hurricane Dolly were
dashed after the storm fell apart early in the week. Western Fir
plywood mills sold steadily, and some kept pace with production.
