Framing lumber sales slowed heading into the long weekend. While cracks developed in some prices, many producers rode order files that reached the week of September 10 or beyond. Hurricane Isaac was the talk of the Southern Pine market, disrupting production, shipping, and consumption in the Gulf States. In the West, dealers were skittish about purchasing anything beyond what they needed to fill inventory holes. They often countered deeply in hopes of getting downside protection, but these were usually rejected.
Week Aug 31
Week Aug 24
Year Ago 2011
Random Lengths Framing Lumber Composite Price*
$342
$342
$258
KD Western S-P-F #2&Btr 2x4 R/L Mill Price
312
312
245
KD Eastern S-P-F #1&2 2x4 R/L, delivered Great Lakes
417
423
335
Green Douglas Fir Std&Btr 2x4 R/L (Portland)
317
322
240
Southern Pine (Westside) #2 2x4 R/L
366
355
249
KD Coast Hem-Fir Std&Btr 2x4 R/L
327
330
260
Ponderosa Pine (Inland) #2&Btr 1x12 R/L
460
460
530
* Weighted average of 15 key items
Structural panel trading slowed. OSB buyers' concerns about upside price potential subsided, and many went into the holiday weekend in a wait-and-see mode. The hurricane preoccupied traders in the South early in the week. Hurricane Isaac disrupted production at some southern plants and delayed shipments in much of the region, but the sales pace was slow. Caution prevailed among western Fir buyers despite widespread thin field inventories. Mills sold modestly on Monday, mostly to customers in the West.
