Madison’s Reporter: Ongoing Winter Weather Keeps Lumber Prices Down

As more cold and snow descended yet again across North America, construction activity remained stalled thus lumber sales were similarly slow. Those purchases which were made were generally for just-in-time buying or immediate needs; almost no one was stocking up on inventory yet for this looming spring building season. For their part, sawmills could only hold off increasing production volumes to keep supply in line with ongoing muted demand. Stocking wholesalers tried to play the inventory-advantage game, only to end up selling small volumes at below current replacement costs. All eyes were on the weather, as expectations were for a burst of building to come as soon as the weather improves.

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In the week ending March 3, 2023, the price of benchmark softwood lumber item Western Spruce-Pine-Fir 2×4 #2&Btr KD (RL) was US$400 mfbm, which is down by -$17 or -4%, from the previous week when it was US$417 mfbm, said weekly forest products industry price guide newsletter Madison’s Lumber Reporter. This is down by -$56, or -12%, from one month ago when it was $456.

Secondary suppliers did replenish some of their stock, while downstream buyers jumped in to cover only their short-term needs with small volume purchases.

“Slow demand for panels was a carbon copy of the previous week, while a two-tiered market developed in lumber and studs’ sales.” — Madison’s Lumber Reporter

Following the previous week’s deep price cuts at the sawmill level, sales of Western S-P-F in the US perked up a bit at the beginning of March. Overall, the market felt healthier according to players, but it wasn’t gangbusters yet. Better takeaway allowed mills to push their order files into the second or third week of March, with production of nine-foot studs the furthest out due to ongoing tight supply. Customers remained reluctant to begin spring buying for many reasons; chief among them sustained winter weather and the troubling economic outlook.

Traders of Western S-P-F lumber in Western Canada reported an uneven pace to business. Some customers found their preferred numbers and secured short-term coverage, while others continued to hold off from buying to see if there will be more downside to pricing. Double-digit price corrections swept across nearly every dimension item, with High- and Low-Grade categories hit the hardest. Ongoing winter weather in many regions helped buyers keep to the sidelines. Availability among both primary and secondary suppliers was ample again, while sawmill order files were anywhere from prompt to two weeks out.

Eastern S-P-F trading was decent at the start of March, with primary and secondary suppliers reporting good takeaway amid a more optimistic tone. That trend was reinforced as the week wore on, with sawmills stabilizing their numbers noticeably from the weaker levels observed on Monday. Sales volumes grew as a midweek push came from buyers who felt a bit of pressure to secure short-term coverage. Business tapered off to a slow burn later in the week according to suppliers. Producers were able to nudge their order files out to mid- or late-March, while secondaries competed with each other for limited orders then ended up selling below replacement levels. Buyers were squarely focussed on small volumes of the most readily-available and cheapest wood possible.” — Madison’s Lumber Reporter

Madison’s Benchmark Top-Six Softwood Lumber and Panel Prices: Monthly Averages

Compared to the same week last year, when it was US$1,330 mfbm, the price of Western Spruce-Pine-Fir 2×4 #2&Btr KD (RL) for the week ending March 3, 2023 this price was down by -$930, or -70%. Compared to two years ago when it was $1,040, that week’s price is down by -$640, or -62%.

About Madison’s Lumber Reporter

Established in 1952, Madison’s Lumber Prices is your premiere source for North American softwood lumber news, prices, industry insight, and industry contacts. The weekly Madison’s Lumber Reporter publishes current Canadian and US construction framing dimension lumber and panel wholesaler pricing information 50 weeks a year and access to historical pricing as well.

Contact:

Keta Kosman – Publisher, Madison’s Lumber Reporter – (604) 319-2266 –www.madisonsreport.com

Source: Madison’s Lumber Reporter