U.S. sawmills produced 26.712 bbf of lumber in 2011, up 7.7% from 24.802 bbf in 2010, but December output falls 2.9% year-over-year to 1.946 bbf from 2.003 bbf: WWPA

Wendy Lisney

LOS ANGELES , March 12, 2012 (Industry Intelligence) – Full-year production by U.S. sawmills grew 7.7% in 2011 to 26.712 billion board ft. (bbf) from 24.802 bbf in 2010, according to the latest statistics from the Western Wood Products Assn. (WWPA).

Sawmills in the Western U.S. produced 11.867 bbf in 2011, up 6.6% year-over-year from 11.137 bbf, while output from sawmills in the South was 13.434 bbf, up 8.7% from 12.354 bbf.

But for the month of December 2011, production was down 2.9% at 1.946 bbf from 2.003 bbf a year earlier; and 6.8% lower than output in November of 2.087 bbf.

Production by Western sawmills dropped 3.5% in December to 868 million board ft. (mmbf) from 900 mmbf in December 2010, and was 3.8% lower than November’s figure of 903 mmbf. Sawmills in the South produced 975 mmbf, down 2.3% year-over year from 998 mmbf and 9.2% lower than output in November (1.074 bbf).

U.S. softwood lumber consumption gained 4.9% in 2011, reaching 34.417 bbf compared with 32.821 bbf a year earlier. In December alone, consumption was 2.1% higher than in December 2010 (2.663 bbf) but was down 2.3% from 2.754 bbf in November.

Canadian softwood lumber production/consumption

Production by mills in Canada totaled 22.352 bbf in 2011, up 0.7% from 22.187 bbf in 2010.

Sawmills in British Columbia accounted for 12.348 bbf of that total, an increase of 7.5% over 2010, while production from sawmills East of the Rockies dropped 6.6% to 10.004 bbf from 10.705 bbf.

In December alone, Canadian sawmills produced 1.579 bbf, down 3.2% from the same month a year earlier (1.631 bbf). Output in November 2011 plunged 15.6% to 1.872 bbf.

Of the December total, sawmills in British Columbia produced 900 mmbf in December, up 3.4% from 870 mmbf in December 2010, but 13% lower than November’s total of 1.034 bbf . Sawmills East of the Rockies produced 680 mmbf in December, down 10.7% from 761 mmbf a year earlier and 18.9% below output in November of 838 mmbf.

Canadian softwood lumber consumption dropped 6.8% last year from 9.450 bbf in 2010 to 8.905 bbf in 2011. In December, consumption was 532 mmbf, down 5.1% from 561 mmbf a year earlier, and a drop of 31.4% from November (776 mmbf).

U.S. and Canada utilization/inventories

U.S. production as a percentage of total capacity averaged 75% in 2011, compared with 69% in 2010. Canada’s figures were 75% and 74%, respectively.

U.S. inventories dropped 0.8% in December 2011 to 2.615 bbf from 2.636 bbf a year earlier. Canadian inventories also fell, by 4.4% to 2.510 bbf from 2.625 bbf in December 2011.

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