U.S. softwood and panel markets report

A pickup in trading Wednesday and Thursday lifted some key framing lumber prices modestly, as well as traders' hopes that they may see a spring buy. However, the lack of any positive news on the economic and housing fronts hung over the market and traders at all levels maintained conservative strategies. While acknowledging that consumption would likely pick up seasonally, many traders believed still more production needed to be wrung out of the market to balance supplies with demand.

	Week Mar 21	Week Mar 14	Year Ago 2007
Random Lengths Framing Lumber Composite Price*	$238	$238	$278
KD Western S-P-F #2&Btr 2x4 R/L Mill Price	205	192	242
KD Eastern S-P-F #1&2 2x4 R/L, delivered Great Lakes	285	287	313
Green Douglas Fir Std&Btr 2x4 R/L (Portland)	200	175	240
Southern Pine (Westside) #2 2x4 R/L	276	283	255
KD Coast Hem-Fir Std&Btr 2x4 R/L	190	190	270
Ponderosa Pine (Inland) #2&Btr 1x12 R/L	440	450	680
* Weighted average of 15 key items

Structural panel sales were stable to sluggish. Uneventful trading left most OSB prices drifting sideways. There were a few exceptions, mostly early in the week. In Southern Pine plywood, the bulk of the week's trading was jammed into Wednesday and Thursday. By Friday, trading stalled when many mills closed and traders left work early in observance of Good Friday. Western Fir plywood mills fought to maintain or raise prices, and they did so by garnering enough small-volume orders to move shipment times into the week of March 31.

(f.o.b. mill prices)	Week Mar 21	Week Mar 14	Year Ago 2007
Random Lengths Structural Panel Composite Price*	$276	$279	$268
Southern (west-east) 15/32-inch 3-ply exterior sheathing plywood	303-305	303-305	280-313
Southern (west-east) 15/32-inch 4-ply exterior sheathing plywood	290-305	305-310	293-323
Western 1/2-inch 4-ply exterior sheathing plywood	290	290	308
North Central 7/16-inch Oriented Strand Board	142	142	138
*Weighted average of 11 key items

U.S. softwood and panel markets report

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