December 6, 2018

Softwood lumber dimension prices stop falling, some even pop back up

Got news? Next submission deadline is Friday at 5:00 p.m.

VANCOUVER, Dec. 6, 2018 /CNW/ – The best description to characterize the movement of North American construction framing dimension softwood lumber wholesaler prices last week is “waffling”. Indeed, benchmark Western Spruce-Pine-Fir KD 2×4 #2&Btr price landed exactly where it had been two weeks ago, with Friday’s print in Madison’s Lumber Reporter at US$354 mfbm, having lost 1% (or $4) from the previous week’s US$358. WSPF 2×6 exhibited the exact same price changes. Trading of lumber futures on the Chicago Mercantile Commission, meanwhile, went from being on-par with the cash market for the January 15 contract to a discount of approximately $10 Monday.

Trading volumes remained low as demand was muted in the usually-quiet week following the US Thanksgiving long weekend. What orders were booked were for fill-in and immediate needs only. Some customers were willing to pay steady prices that sawmills were quoting, while many others preferred to wait and see if levels would fall yet more.

In this slowing time of year for building in North America, log buyers for China have been out actively sourcing wood in advance of Spring Break. This newer seasonal cycle, of large-volume log and lumber sales to Asia in 4Q, tends to keep the bottom for annual Canadian and US lumber prices higher than it was prior to 2011 when this new trend started emerging.

www.madisonsreport.com

Watch the video and learn more about the benefits of joining Construction Links Network – the peer-to-peer network sharing platform for the construction, building and design community.

Tweet Share LinkedIn

Submit YOUR Content ❯