Lumber production in Canada increased by +18.7% from February to 5,528.3 thousand cubic metres in March, said Statistics Canada in the latest data release June 5. Production was -5.3% lower than in March 2018. Sawmills shipped 5,145.1 thousand cubic metres of lumber in March, up +15.7% from February and -2.1% lower than in March 2018.
Canada exported -13% less lumber to the world in March 2019 compared to February, said Statistics Canada Tuesday. Lumber exports to the US were down -18%, while that to China rose by +23% (although volumes to China are very small compared to that going to USA).
Lumber prices fell through most of 2019 until the second week of June, when they reserves spectacularly to recover much of the price levels lost. For it’s part, lumber futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange were also up, by a similar ratio.