Sales of framing lumber were light in
mid-August, and prices slipped in several
species. Weather, vacations, and fear of
downside risk were most often cited as reasons
for the market’s quieter tone. Producers rode
order files where they could, but thinning files
on various items resulted in an increasing
number of price cracks. While the cuts were
generally modest, some double-digit declines
were posted in Southern Pine. The Random Lengths
Framing Lumber Composite Price slipped $1, its
first drop since July 1.
| This Week Aug 19 |
Last Week Aug 12 |
Year Ago 2015 |
|
| Random Lengths Framing Lumber Composite Price* | $368 | $369 | $326 |
| KD Western S-P-F #2&Btr 2x4 R/L Mill Price | 329 | 330 | 276 |
| KD Eastern S-P-F #1&2 2x4 R/L, delivered Great Lakes | 431 | 431 | 377 |
| Green Douglas Fir Std&Btr 2x4 R/L (Portland) | 345 | 350 | 330 |
| Southern Pine (Westside) #2 2x4 R/L | 426 | 426 | 333 |
| KD Coast Hem-Fir #2&Btr 2x4 R/L | 335 | 345 | 317 |
| Ponderosa Pine (Inland) #2&Btr 1x12 R/L | 700 | 705 | 665 |
| * Weighted average of 15 key items | |||
Random Lengths Panel Market Report
Price declines outpaced gains in structural panel markets. OSB
prices were soft across all producing regions, but they peeled back
in widely varying degrees. Double-digit cuts were most prominent in
Western Canada and parts of the South. Prices of Southern Pine rated
sheathing were widely perceived to have touched a bottom. Most mill
order files reached the week of August 29. The pace was measured in
western Fir plywood, and producers often found it necessary to open
to counters to move sheathing.
(f.o.b. mill prices)
| (f.o.b. mill prices) | This Week Aug 19 |
Last Week Aug 12 |
Year Ago 2015 |
| Random Lengths Structural Panel Composite Price* | $392 | $394 | $346 |
| Southern (west-east) 15/32-inch 3-ply rated sheathing plywood | 367-387 | 365-385 | 363-405 |
| Southern (west-east) 15/32-inch 4-ply rated sheathing plywood | 367-387 | 365-387 | 368-410 |
| Western 1/2-inch 4-ply rated sheathing plywood | 405 | 413 | 389 |
| North Central 7/16-inch Oriented Strand Board | 305 | 310 | 200 |
| *Weighted average of 11 key items | |||
