The latest issue of the Western Wood Products Association’s monthly Lumber Track, for January-March 2019, shows a +0.4% increase in US softwood lumber production volume, to 8,634 mmfbm.
January – March softwood lumber production in Canada continued dropping by -8.6%, to 6,382 mmfbm, compared to the first three months of 2018 when it was 6,985 mmfbm.
In British Columbia, lumber production continued significant reductions begun around 2017, in Jan – March plunging another -14.7 per cent, to 2,684 mmfbm, from 3,145 mmfbm in the first three months of 2018.
Be ahead of these data releases! Madison’s Lumber Prices, delivered every Friday morning, are a good forecast indicator of US home builder’s current lumber buying activity ——> DETAILS
North America Sawmill Production as Percent of Practical Capacity: Jan – Mar 2019
US sawmill production as per cent of practical capacity for the first three months of 2019 fell slightly compared to the same time in 2018, at 86% from 84%, said the Western Wood Products Association’s monthly Lumber Track. As for the previous issue, Canadian sawmill production as per cent of practical capacity dropped sharply in January – Marh 2019, to 82% from 88% the previous year. This, however, is a big improvement over the Jan – Feb issue, when Canadian sawmill capacity utilization rates were a measly 78%.