Softwood lumber production in Canada continued it’s drop from last year, falling another -1.7% in January to June 2018, from 14,560 million board feet to 14,316 mmfbm for the same time last year, said the Western Wood Products Association’s monthly Lumber Track Tuesday
In the US, softwood lumber production stayed on an upward trajectory for the first six months of 2018, improving by another +5.1%, at 17,758 million board feet, versus 16,898 mmfbm in January to June of the previous year.
North America Sawmill Capacity Utilization Rates
Elsewhere, the WWPA put Canadian lumber production as a percent of practical capacity down another full 2% compared to the first six months of 2017, to 90% from 92%.
US sawmills, meanwhile, improved capacity further and were operating at 87% of capacity, compared to 84% in January to June 2017.
