U.S. softwood and panel markets - week 33, 2011
- August 15, 2011
- • Source: Used with permission granted by Random Lenghts Publications, Inc.
- • Views: 5453
The gyrations in the
financial markets that followed S&P's downgrade of the U.S.
credit rating took center stage much of the week. Weakness was widely
apparent in framing lumber prices as buyers backed away. However,
enough buyers shrugged off the news by mid-day Wednesday that some
producers reported a better pace of sales in late trading. Buyers
taking the tack that jobs under way needed to be finished -- no matter
what the situation on Wall Street -- found their best deals and moved
ahead.
| |
Week
Aug 12 |
Week
Aug 5 |
Year Ago
2010 |
| Random Lengths Framing Lumber Composite Price* |
$267
|
$272 |
$242
|
| KD Western S-P-F #2&Btr 2x4 R/L Mill Price |
230
|
242
|
210 |
| KD Eastern S-P-F #1&2 2x4 R/L, delivered Great Lakes |
323
|
336 |
315
|
| Green Douglas Fir Std&Btr 2x4 R/L (Portland) |
250
|
250 |
180 |
| Southern Pine (Westside) #2 2x4 R/L |
276
|
277 |
230
|
| KD Coast Hem-Fir Std&Btr 2x4 R/L |
265
|
270
|
220
|
| Ponderosa Pine (Inland) #2&Btr 1x12 R/L |
538
|
545
|
540
|
| * Weighted average of 15 key items | |||
Structural panel trading
fell off sharply. Sales of OSB quieted. The turbulence on Wall Street
was seen as a major distraction. Some traders stepped back altogether,
while others cut purchases to a bare minimum. Most Southern Pine
plywood producers let a sluggish, uneventful week pass without making
big changes in prices. Negative news and uncertainty from the broader
economy permeated the western Fir plywood market and contributed to a
lethargic pace of sales.
| (f.o.b. mill prices) |
Week
Aug 12 |
Week
Aug 5 |
Year Ago
2010 |
| Random Lengths Structural Panel Composite Price* |
$289
|
$288
|
$293
|
| Southern (west-east) 15/32-inch 3-ply exterior sheathing plywood | 284-320 |
287-320
|
305-315
|
| Southern (west-east) 15/32-inch 4-ply exterior sheathing plywood |
293-325
|
295-325
|
310-315
|
| Western 1/2-inch 4-ply exterior sheathing plywood | 312 |
312 |
307
|
| North Central 7/16-inch Oriented Strand Board | 195 |
187
|
170
|
| *Weighted average of 11 key items | |||