Trading in framing lumber perked up Wednesday,
putting a halt to skidding or drifting prices in
most species. Follow-through Thursday was mixed,
but generally enough to encourage sellers. The
major exception was Southern Pine, as a
perception of an imbalance in supply and demand
took hold. Winter storms in the Northeast and
nasty weather in other areas limited
consumption. The snowstorm kept demand for
Eastern S-P-F under wraps as well, until a
breakout in Western S-P-F Tuesday afternoon and
Wednesday helped eastern mills regain control.
| This Week Mar 17 |
Last Week Mar 10 |
Year Ago 2016 |
|
| Random Lengths Framing Lumber Composite Price* | $396 | $402 | $332 |
| KD Western S-P-F #2&Btr 2x4 R/L Mill Price | 352 | 354 | 299 |
| KD Eastern S-P-F #1&2 2x4 R/L, delivered Great Lakes | 434 | 434 | 375 |
| Green Douglas Fir Std&Btr 2x4 R/L (Portland) | 367 | 370 | 328 |
| Southern Pine (Westside) #2 2x4 R/L | 475 | 484 | 381 |
| KD Coast Hem-Fir #2&Btr 2x4 R/L | 387 | 392 | 337 |
| Ponderosa Pine (Inland) #2&Btr 1x12 R/L | 605 | 600 | 675 |
| * Weighted average of 15 key items | |||
Random Lengths Panel Market Report
Structural panel sales sputtered throughout the week. Trading at
OSB mills remained on the quiet side, and prices were mostly flat
with a few small adjustments in either direction. Producers with
order files into April or later held firm to quotes, but sold
little. Southern Pine plywood trading was up and down. Some mills
were aggressive, quoting well below last week’s reported levels in
an attempt to stimulate sales. After a quiet start to the week that
had western Fir plywood mills opening to counters, the trading pace
picked up late Wednesday and early Thursday.
(f.o.b. mill prices)
| (f.o.b. mill prices) | This Week Mar 17 |
Last Week Mar 10 |
Year Ago 2016 |
| Random Lengths Structural Panel Composite Price* | $402 | $404 | $350 |
| Southern (west-east) 15/32-inch 3-ply rated sheathing plywood | 380-405 | 390-415 | 370-397 |
| Southern (west-east) 15/32-inch 4-ply rated sheathing plywood | 380-410 | 390-417 | 375-400 |
| Western 1/2-inch 4-ply rated sheathing plywood | 398 | 402 | 340 |
| North Central 7/16-inch Oriented Strand Board | 305 | 305 | 220 |
| *Weighted average of 11 key items | |||
