the timber network

• November 03, 2008
• • Source: Used with permission granted by Random Lenghts Publications, Inc.
• • Views: 8784

Print | Email

• 
• 

A modest pickup in sales allowed many framing lumber producers to approach customers with a firmer stance on prices by late in the week. Even so, softness was the overall rule, with the Random Lengths Framing Lumber Composite Price slipping to $220, another low for the year to date and the lowest level since 1991. The mild pickup failed to do more than firm prices, and much of the firming came late in the week after mills had lowered prices to generate sales.

Structural panel markets were a grind. Tepid sales left most OSB prices in a flat-to-down mode. A few mills had prompt loads available for shipment, but most were booked into the first two weeks of November. Southern Pine plywood sales were often stacked toward the beginning of the week. Mills routinely quoted sheathing near last week's published levels, but accepted $5-20 discounts to book orders. Western Fir plywood prices eroded, although at a slower pace than in recent weeks.