The latest issue of the Western Wood Products Association’s monthly Lumber Track, for January-April 2019, shows a +0.9% increase in US softwood lumber production volume, to 11,718 mmfbm. Last month it was +0.4%.
January – April softwood lumber production in Canada continued dropping, this time by another -8.8%, to 8,588 mmfbm, compared to the first four months of 2018 when it was 9,421 mmfbm. Last month it was -8.6%.
In British Columbia, significant sawmill curtailments brought another huge drop in production volumes, for Jan – April plunging another -16.2 per cent, to 3,587 mmfbm, from 4,279 mmfbm in the first four months of 2018. Last month it was down -14.7%.
North America Softwood Lumber Production, Sawmill Capacity Utilization, WWPA: April 2019
US sawmill production as per cent of practical capacity for the first four months of 2019 is lower than the same time in 2018; at 82%, from 85% in 2018, said the Western Wood Products Association’s monthly Lumber Track. Canadian sawmill production as per cent of practical capacity dropped sharply in January – April 2019, to 82% from 90% the previous year.
