LOS ANGELES
,
January 17, 2023
(Industry Intelligence Inc.)
–
U.S. sawmills in October produced 3.093 billion board ft. (bbf) of softwood lumber, down 1.7% from the 3.148 bbf produced in October 2021, but up 2.8% compared with September 2022’s 3.008 bbf, according to the Western Wood Products Assn.’s Lumber Track report for October, dated January 13. Western U.S. sawmills in October contributed 1.066 bbf to the total, down 12.3% from the prior year’s 1.215 bbf, while output from Southern sawmills rose 5.4% year-over-year to 1.888 bbf from 1.791 bbf. Compared with September, Western sawmill production increased 2.9% and Southern output increased 2.8%. Apparent U.S. softwood lumber consumption in October was 4.298 bbf, down 1.5% from 4.363 bbf in October 2021, but 1.6% more than 4.229 bbf in September. U.S. production as a percentage of practical capacity averaged 82% in October, down from 87% in October 2021 but up from 80% in September. U.S. inventories in October rose 5.8% year-over-year to 2.894 bbf from 2.735 bbf. Canadian softwood lumber industry activity Canadian sawmills in October produced 1.753 bbf of softwood lumber, down 9.8% from October 2021’s 1.943 bbf, and down 3.1% from September’s 1.809 bbf. British Columbia mills accounted for 595 million board feet (mmbf) of the October total, down 20.7% compared with October 2021’s 751 mmbf and down 4.5% compared with September’s 624 mmbf. Sawmills east of the Rockies in October produced 1.158 mmbf, down 2.9% from 1.192 bbf in October 2021 and 2.3% lower compared with September’s 1.185 mmbf. Apparent Canadian softwood lumber consumption in October was 554 mmbf, up 4.8% from October 2021’s 529 mmbf, but down 12.1% from September. Canadian production as a percentage of practical capacity in October averaged 70%, down from 79% a year ago and down from 72% in September. Canadian softwood lumber inventories in October were up 5.8% year-over-year to 2.894 bbf from 2.735 bbf. The primary source of this article is Lumber Track for October 2022, sent out by the Western Wood Products Assn., Portland, Oregon, on January 13, 2022
* 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.