US sawmills produced 3.110 bbf of softwood lumber in May, down 1.3% year-over-year from 3.151 bbf and down 2.6% from April’s 3.194 bbf; Canadian lumber production was 2.029 bbf, down 1.0% annually from 2.050 bbf, up 12.3% from April’s 1.807 bbf: WWPA

Sample article from our Forestry & Timberland

LOS ANGELES , August 15, 2022 () –

U.S. sawmills in May produced 3.110 billion board ft. (bbf) of softwood lumber, down 1.3% from the 3.151 bbf produced in May 2021, and down 2.6% compared with April 2022’s 3.194 bbf, according to the Western Wood Products Assn.’s Lumber Track report for May, dated August 12. 

Western U.S. sawmills in May contributed 1.200 bbf to the total, down 2.6% from the prior year’s 1.232 bbf, while output from Southern sawmills was down 0.4% year-over-year to 1.770 bbf from 1.778 bbf. Compared with April, Western sawmill production increased 0.7% and Southern output decreased 4.8%.

Apparent U.S. softwood lumber consumption in May was 4.384 bbf, down 4.9% from 4.609 bbf in May 2021 and unchanged from April. 

U.S. production as a percentage of practical capacity averaged 84% in May, down from 91% in May 2021 and down from 86% in April. 

U.S. inventories in May were up 4.2% year-over-year to 3.119 bbf from 2.994 bbf.

Canadian softwood lumber industry activity

Canadian sawmills in May produced 2.029 bbf of softwood lumber, down 1.0% from May 2021’s 2.050 bbf, and up 12.3% from April’s 1.807 bbf.

British Columbia mills accounted for 736 million board feet (mmbf) of the May total, down 9.5% compared with May 2021’s 813 mmbf and up 11.1% compared with April’s 662 mmbf.

Sawmills east of the Rockies in May produced 1.293 bbf, up 4.5% from 1.237 bbf in May 2021 and up 13.0% compared with April’s 1.144 bbf.

Apparent Canadian softwood lumber consumption in May was 667 mmbf, up 2.4% from May 2021’s 651 mmbf, and up 10.9% from April. 

Canadian production as a percentage of practical capacity in May averaged 81%, down from 87% a year ago and up from 72% in April. 

Canadian softwood lumber inventories in May were up 23.4% year-over-year to 3.390 bbf from 2.746 bbf.

The primary source of this article is Lumber Track for May 2022, sent out by the Western Wood Products Assn., Portland, Oregon, on August 12, 2022
 

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Dan Rivard
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