U.S. softwood and panel markets

Southern Pine continued to lead the framing lumber market higher last week, with thin field inventories, production cutbacks, and truck shortages key factors. A slower pace elsewhere early on generated caution, but sales kicked into gear Wednesday and Thursday on news of production curtailments in the Coast region. The Random Lengths Framing Lumber Composite Price advanced $7, its sixth consecutive weekly gain. Traders cited supply constraints as the key driver, although seasonal increases in consumption contributed.

	Week May 9	Week May 2	Year Ago 2007
Random Lengths Framing Lumber Composite Price*	$277	$270	$280
KD Western S-P-F #2&Btr 2x4 R/L Mill Price	233	220	228
KD Eastern S-P-F #1&2 2x4 R/L, delivered Great Lakes	297	294	303
Green Douglas Fir Std&Btr 2x4 R/L (Portland)	260	258	255
Southern Pine (Westside) #2 2x4 R/L	321	310	280
KD Coast Hem-Fir Std&Btr 2x4 R/L	235	228	230
Ponderosa Pine (Inland) #2&Btr 1x12 R/L	450	425	680
* Weighted average of 15 key items

Structural panel prices moved higher. Limited mill offerings kept steady upward pressure on OSB prices. Inventories at the retail level were lean, and producers fielded a steady flow of calls from customers tracking shipments. Southern Pine plywood sales picked up steam on Wednesday after opening at a pedestrian pace. Some westside mills pulled off the market on key items after falling behind on shipping. Inquiries at western Fir plywood mills were heavy to buyers seeking shipment of their earlier orders, and mills failed to keep sales on pace with production.

(f.o.b. mill prices)	Week May 9	Week May 2	Year Ago 2007
Random Lengths Structural Panel Composite Price*	$316	$305	$288
Southern (west-east) 15/32-inch 3-ply exterior sheathing plywood	339-365	332-355	330-345
Southern (west-east) 15/32-inch 4-ply exterior sheathing plywood	355-370	343-360	330-355
Western 1/2-inch 4-ply exterior sheathing plywood	348	346	321
North Central 7/16-inch Oriented Strand Board	177	162	143
*Weighted average of 11 key items

U.S. softwood and panel markets - Week 19

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