Last week's ales of framing lumber in US varied among species and producing regions. The cash market in Western S-P-F got a shot in the arm from strength in futures, and transportation hang-ups related to a rail trestle in Alberta that was destroyed by fire. Eastern S-P-F producers also caught the wave of increased activity. Elsewhere, trading was mixed, with the pace slowing in Southern Pine and trading in western species described as a grind. All told, the Random Lengths Framing Lumber Composite Price rose $4.
| Week Apr 29 |
Previous Week Apr 22 |
Year Ago 2015 |
|
| Random Lengths Framing Lumber Composite Price* | $350 | $346 | $327 |
| KD Western S-P-F #2&Btr 2x4 R/L Mill Price | 298 | 284 | 249 |
| KD Eastern S-P-F #1&2 2x4 R/L, delivered Great Lakes | 385 | 370 | 350 |
| Green Douglas Fir Std&Btr 2x4 R/L (Portland) | 327 | 320 | 290 |
| Southern Pine (Westside) #2 2x4 R/L | 427 | 421 | 397 |
| KD Coast Hem-Fir #2&Btr 2x4 R/L | 380 | 380 | 300 |
| Ponderosa Pine (Inland) #2&Btr 1x12 R/L | 695 | 690 | 670 |
| * Weighted average of 15 key items | |||
Random Lengths Panel Market Report
Structural panel sales gained momentum. Extended order files and steady demand kept prices of OSB on a firm-to-higher track. Activity was best in western markets, where reports of coming downtime and recent production issues in Western Canada kept buyers replenishing. After a slow start to the week, Southern Pine plywood sales showed more life Wednesday and Thursday, and the market finished with a better tone. A late-week pickup in activity firmed western Fir sheathing prices, with a few producers lifting quotes by around $5 Friday.
| (f.o.b. mill prices) | Week Apr 29 |
Previous Week Apr 22 |
Year Ago 2015 |
| Random Lengths Structural Panel Composite Price* | $358 | $355 | $360 |
| Southern (west-east) 15/32-inch 3-ply rated sheathing plywood | 355-375 | 353-370 | 418-460 |
| Southern (west-east) 15/32-inch 4-ply rated sheathing plywood | 358-377 | 353-372 | 420-465 |
| Western 1/2-inch 4-ply rated sheathing plywood | 343 | 345 | 392 |
| North Central 7/16-inch Oriented Strand Board | 250 | 247 | 175 |
| *Weighted average of 11 key items | |||
Source: Random Lengths
