Framing lumber trading was mixed, with relatively low expectations and quiet sales sometimes interrupted by buying spurts. Sales exceeded many traders' expectations in Southern Pine, while a late-week surge in orders allowed Western S-P-F producers to nudge up quotes on the bellwether #2&Btr 2x4. Prices were flat to narrowly mixed in western species, with some firming noted Wednesday. The Random Lengths Framing Lumber Composite Price was unchanged at $262.
Week
Jul 3
Week
Jun 27
Year Ago
2007
Random Lengths Framing
Lumber Composite Price*
$262
$262
$311
KD Western S-P-F #2&Btr 2x4 R/L
Mill Price
248
245
284
KD Eastern S-P-F #1&2 2x4 R/L,
delivered Great Lakes
325
325
370
Green Douglas Fir Std&Btr 2x4
R/L (Portland)
208
215
262
Southern Pine (Westside) #2 2x4 R/L
294
299
306
KD Coast Hem-Fir Std&Btr 2x4 R/L
240
240
285
Ponderosa Pine (Inland) #2&Btr
1x12 R/L
475
480
675
* Weighted
average of 15 key items
Structural panel trading was slow heading into the long holiday weekend in the U.S. A number of OSB traders were out of their offices this week, which contributed to a dull sales pace. Some producers reported order files into the week of July 14 or later, but ample loads were available for shipment next week. In Southern Pine plywood, a quiet Monday followed by three days of metered trading encouraged many mills to hold sheathing prices firm. Western Fir plywood inquiries were light, but the sales-to-inquiry ratio was high.
