Mixed price trends kept framing lumber traders
off balance in mid-April. Gains were mostly
secured in the Southern Pine market, with
treaters, home centers, and truss manufacturers
among the most active buyers. Prices softened in
Western and Eastern S-P-F. In the West, the
brisk sales pace of recent weeks moderated;
prices of Hem Fir were firm, while weakness was
prevalent in green and dry Douglas Fir. The
Random Lengths Framing Lumber Composite Price
fell for the first time in 11 weeks.
| This Week Apr 15 |
Last Week Apr 8 |
Year Ago 2015 |
|
| Random Lengths Framing Lumber Composite Price* | $346 | $347 | $336 |
| KD Western S-P-F #2&Btr 2x4 R/L Mill Price | 294 | 308 | 269 |
| KD Eastern S-P-F #1&2 2x4 R/L, delivered Great Lakes | 384 | 389 | 369 |
| Green Douglas Fir Std&Btr 2x4 R/L (Portland) | 325 | 335 | 295 |
| Southern Pine (Westside) #2 2x4 R/L | 411 | 400 | 406 |
| KD Coast Hem-Fir #2&Btr 2x4 R/L | 382 | 378 | 310 |
| Ponderosa Pine (Inland) #2&Btr 1x12 R/L | 685 | 685 | 670 |
| * Weighted average of 15 key items | |||
Random Lengths Panel Market Report
Structural panel prices shifted in both directions amid a slower
overall trading pace. Solid mill order files kept OSB prices on a
firm to higher track, although sales slowed from the pace of
previous weeks. Buyers took on a more cautious tone. In Southern
Pine plywood markets, prices of rated sheathing softened. Activity
at the retail and distribution levels was brisk, but eroding order
files put pressure on mills to find trading levels. A slow week of
trading at the mill level resulted in a few cracks appearing in
western Fir plywood prices.
| (f.o.b. mill prices) | This Week Apr 15 |
Last Week Apr 8 |
Year Ago 2015 |
| Random Lengths Structural Panel Composite Price* | $359 | $360 | $369 |
| Southern (west-east) 15/32-inch 3-ply rated sheathing plywood | 360-385 | 370-393 | 430-487 |
| Southern (west-east) 15/32-inch 4-ply rated sheathing plywood | 363-390 | 373-397 | 435-490 |
| Western 1/2-inch 4-ply rated sheathing plywood | 363 | 369 | 425 |
| North Central 7/16-inch Oriented Strand Board | 247 | 242 | 180 |
| *Weighted average of 11 key items | |||
