![Western SPF and Hem-Fir Inland KD 2x4 #2&Btr prices NOV 2019](https://madisonsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Screen-Shot-2019-11-05-at-10.44.26-AM-1024x329.png)
After flattening out last month, the latest issue of the Western Wood Products Association’s monthly Lumber Track, for January-August 2019, shows US softwood lumber production volume continues almost flat from the same time last year, to 23,737 mmfbm.
Like last month, January – August softwood lumber production in Canada continued big drops through most of this year, falling another -11%, to 16,655 mmfbm, compared to the first eight months of 2018 when it was 18,664 mmfbm.
![North America Softwood Lumber Production: Aug 2019](https://madisonsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Screen-Shot-2019-11-12-at-12.42.30-PM-1024x515.png)
In British Columbia, brutal sawmill curtailments brought another huge drop in production volumes, which for Jan – Aug plumetted another -20%, to 6,887 mmfbm, from 8,587 mmfbm in the first eight months of 2018.
North America Softwood Lumber Production, Sawmill Capacity Utilization, WWPA: Aug 2019
![North America Sawmill Capaciaty Utilization Rates: Aug 2019](https://madisonsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Screen-Shot-2019-11-12-at-12.42.44-PM-1024x732.png)
US sawmill production as per cent of practical capacity for the first eight months of 2019 dropped -3% compared to the same time in 2018; at 83%, from 86% in January – August 2018, said the Western Wood Products Association’s monthly Lumber Track.
Canadian sawmill production as per cent of practical capacity crashed down another -9% in January – August 2019, to 79% from 88% the previous year.