U.S. softwood lumber production climbs 9.2% to 4.578 bbf in first two months, up from 4.192 bbf year-over-year; Canadian mills increase output by 4.6% to 3.784 bbf: WWPA

Wendy Lisney

Wendy Lisney

LOS ANGELES , May 15, 2012 (press release) – Production from U.S. sawmills climbed 9.2% in the first two months of this year to 4.578 billion board feet (bbf), up from 4.192 bbf in the same period last year, according to the Western Wood Products Assn.’s (WWPA) latest Lumber Track report.

Of that total, Western U.S. sawmills produced 2.046 bbf of lumber – an increase of 8.3% over the first two months of 2011 (1.888 bbf). Production at southern U.S. sawmills rose by 10%, from 2.082 bbf to 2.290 bbf.

In February alone, U.S. sawmills produced 2.265 bbf, a 9.2% increase over February 2011 (2.074 bbf), but 2.1% less than output in January this year (2.313 bbf).

Western sawmills produced 1.036 bbf in February, up 10.8% from 935 million board feet (mmbf) in February last year, and 2.6% higher than the 1.010 bbf produced in January.

Output from Southern U.S. sawmills was 1.109 bbf in February, up 7.8% from the same month last year (1.029 bbf), but 6.1% below January’s production of 1.181 bbf.

U.S. softwood lumber consumption was 5.701 bbf in the first two months, an 8.7% increase over last year’s volume of 5.246 bbf.

Consumption in February alone was 2.883 bbf, up 13.4% over February last year (2.543 bbf) and 2.3% higher than consumption in January (2.817 bbf).

Canadian softwood lumber production/consumption

Canadian softwood lumber production was 3.784 bbf in the first two months, an increase of 4.6% over the same period last year (3.617 bbf).

Of that total, production in British Columbia was 2.139 bbf – an 8.3% gain over the same period last year (1.975 bbf). Output from mills east of the Rockies was 1.645 bbf, up 0.2% from 1.642 bbf last year.

Canadian production for the month of February was 1.938 bbf; 8.1% higher than in the same month last year (1.792 bbf), and 5.0% above output in January of 1.846 bbf.

Production at sawmills in British Columbia increased 12.4% year-over-year to 1.063 bbf from 946 mmbf, but dropped 1.2% from January (1.076 bbf). At sawmills east of the Rockies, February’s output of 875 mmbf was 3.4% higher than last year’s (846 mmbf) and 13.7% above production in January (770 mmbf).

Canadian softwood lumber consumption was 1.422 bbf in the first two months, an increase of 2.9% over last year’s 1.383 bbf. In February alone, consumption was 691 mmbf, up 9.1% from 633 mmbf in Feb. 2011, but 5.5% lower than consumption in January of 731 mmbf.

U.S. and Canada utilization/inventories

U.S. production as a percentage of practical capacity averaged 77% in the first two months, compared with 72% in the same period last year. In Canada, the figure edged upwards to 76% from 75% a year earlier.

U.S. inventories dipped 2.6% year-over-year to 2.687 bbf in February from 2.759 bbf. Inventories in Canada were 2.672 bbf in February – down 9.9% from the same month last year (2.966 bbf).

* All content is copyrighted by Industry Intelligence, or the original respective author or source. You may not recirculate, redistrubte or publish the analysis and presentation included in the service without Industry Intelligence's prior written consent. Please review our terms of use.

Share:

About Us

We deliver market news & information relevant to your business.

We monitor all your market drivers.

We aggregate, curate, filter and map your specific needs.

We deliver the right information to the right person at the right time.

Our Contacts

1990 S Bundy Dr. Suite #380,
Los Angeles, CA 90025

+1 (310) 553 0008

About Cookies On This Site

We collect data, including through use of cookies and similar technology ("cookies") that enchance the online experience. By clicking "I agree", you agree to our cookies, agree to bound by our Terms of Use, and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. For more information on our data practices and how to exercise your privacy rights, please see our Privacy Policy.