Amid some mixed sentiment, framing lumber prices increased last week in U.S. Weather clouded the views of traders in some markets.
But with warm temperatures across the East and a sense that the remainder of winter held little threat going forward, buyers stepped up purchases. Trading was especially active early on, as momentum from the previous week’s surge carried over through Tuesday. Activity eased at the mill level, as producers extended order files and raised prices — in some cases sharply.
| This Week Mar 11 |
Last Week Mar 4 |
Year Ago 2015 |
|
| Random Lengths Framing Lumber Composite Price* | $322 | $316 | $341 |
| KD Western S-P-F #2&Btr 2x4 R/L Mill Price | 290 | 276 | 295 |
| KD Eastern S-P-F #1&2 2x4 R/L, delivered Great Lakes | 366 | 364 | 398 |
| Green Douglas Fir Std&Btr 2x4 R/L (Portland) | 322 | 322 | 305 |
| Southern Pine (Westside) #2 2x4 R/L | 373 | 367 | 400 |
| KD Coast Hem-Fir #2&Btr 2x4 R/L | 325 | 315 | 317 |
| Ponderosa Pine (Inland) #2&Btr 1x12 R/L | 675 | 675 | 665 |
| * Weighted average of 15 key items | |||
Random Lengths Panel Market Report
Plywood fared better than OSB in structural panel trading. Small price cracks emerged in many OSB markets, as a few producers developed prompt loadings. Most pushed order files into the week of March 21 or later by Friday. After a lackluster start, Southern Pine plywood trading picked up toward the end of the week. By Friday morning, several mills had moved order files into the week of March 28 and nudged quotes upward. Western Fir plywood sales picked up as the week progressed among all but a couple of producers. Prices posed modest gains.
| (f.o.b. mill prices) | This Week Mar 11 |
Last Week Mar 4 |
Year Ago 2015 |
| Random Lengths Structural Panel Composite Price* | $349 | $348 | $375 |
| Southern (west-east) 15/32-inch 3-ply rated sheathing plywood | 370-397 | 368-395 | 437-495 |
| Southern (west-east) 15/32-inch 4-ply rated sheathing plywood | 373-400 | 370-398 | 440-505 |
| Western 1/2-inch 4-ply rated sheathing plywood | 332 | 325 | 402 |
| North Central 7/16-inch Oriented Strand Board | 225 | 227 | 188 |
| *Weighted average of 11 key items | |||
Source: Random Lengths
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