The U.S. holiday was widely cited as a factor for a slow start to sales of framing lumber, but many traders noted a pickup later in the week. Amid strength in the futures market Thursday, wholesalers covered shorts and distributors covered near-term needs. Even so, many traders remained wary, unconvinced that recent weakness had been fully wrung out of prices. A firmer tone developed late, but with many prices failing to rebound from early weakness, the Random Lengths Framing Lumber Composite Price fell $4.
Week Jun 2 |
Week May 26 |
Year Ago 2016 |
|
Random Lengths Framing Lumber Composite Price* | $402 | $406 | $355 |
KD Western S-P-F #2&Btr 2x4 R/L Mill Price | 366 | 376 | 322 |
KD Eastern S-P-F #1&2 2x4 R/L, delivered Great Lakes | 460 | 466 | 420 |
Green Douglas Fir Std&Btr 2x4 R/L (Portland) | 390 | 390 | 355 |
Southern Pine (Westside) #2 2x4 R/L | 442 | 442 | 395 |
KD Coast Hem-Fir #2&Btr 2x4 R/L | 395 | 400 | 375 |
Ponderosa Pine (Inland) #2&Btr 1x12 R/L | 695 | 695 | 705 |
* Weighted average of 15 key items |
Random Lengths Panel Market Report
Structural panel markets drew mixed reviews. OSB traders widely debated price trends. Downward pressure was unabated in the South. Price cuts were sharpest in the Southwest, where mills offered double-digit discounts to clear accumulations. Southern Pine plywood traders sensed easing downward price pressure amid an improving sales pace as the week progressed. The trading pace in western Fir plywood was comparable with the previous week; traders noted that Fir was quieter than other panels.
(f.o.b. mill prices) | This Week Jun 2 |
Last Week May 26 |
Year Ago 2016 |
Random Lengths Structural Panel Composite Price* | $400 | $404 | $376 |
Southern (west-east) 15/32-inch 3-ply rated sheathing plywood | 345-375 | 345-375 | 360-378 |
Southern (west-east) 15/32-inch 4-ply rated sheathing plywood | 350-380 | 350-380 | 360-380 |
Western 1/2-inch 4-ply rated sheathing plywood | 403 | 406 | 370 |
North Central 7/16-inch Oriented Strand Board | 320 | 323 | 280 |
*Weighted average of 11 key items |