Random Lengths North American structural panel composite advances US$7 to US$411/msf, October average of US$403/msf drops US$39 from September

Wendy Lisney

LOS ANGELES , October 29, 2012 (Industry Intelligence Inc.) – The Random Lengths North American structural panel composite, which ended a five-week run of declines in the week ending Oct. 19 with a US$8 gain, advanced another $7 (1.73%) last week to reach $411 per thousand sq. ft. (msf) on Oct. 26 – up $122 (42.21%) from the price reported at this time a year ago of $289/msf.

For October as a whole, the composite averaged $403/msf, down $39 (8.82%) from the average in September of $442/msf, but $106/msf (35.69%) higher than the average in October last year of $297/msf. according to Random Lengths data. The average for 2011 was $292/msf, $32 (9.88%) below the average in 2010 of $324/msf.

OSB prices continued to increase last week, although sales slowed in comparison to the week ending Oct. 19, reported Random Lengths. Sales were better than traders expected for late October, and picked up still further along the Eastern Seaboard as Hurricane Sandy approached.

The price of the benchmark grade, OSB North Central 7/16 in., climbed $11 (3.64%) to $313/msf from $302/msf in the previous week, and was $125 (66.49%) higher than the price reported a year ago of $188/msf.

The OSB composite gained $15 (4.56%) to reach $344/msf, up from $329/msf in the week before, and $143 (71.14%) higher than the price reported at this time last year of $201/msf.

In Southern pine markets, Random Lengths described sales as lackluster, but noted that producers were able to generate enough business to extend order files into the week of Nov. 5 and 12, with a few mills attempting to achieve modest price gains. Secondaries selling from inventories undercut mill prices by up to $10-15.

The reported price of Southern Plywood Eastside CDX 15/32 in. 3-ply held at $415/msf for a second week after gaining $5 in the week ending Oct 19, and was $85 (25.76%) higher than the price reported a year ago of $330/msf.

The reported price of Southern Plywood Westside CDX 15/32 in. 3-ply also held at the previous week’s level of $398/msf, and was $103 (34.92%) higher than the price reported at this time last year of $295/msf.

Southern Plywood Westside CDX 15/32 in. 4-ply edged $2 (0.50%) higher to $400/msf and was $100 (33.33%) higher than the price reported at this time last year ($300/msf).

The Southern plywood composite advanced $2 (0.37%) to $538/msf, and was $106 (24.53%) higher than the price reported at this time last year of $432/msf.

Western plywood sales were generally supported by smaller customers, whose scattered orders helped mills push their order files into the week of Nov. 5, reported Random Lengths. Most producers quoted $375/msf on Western Plywood Coast CDX 1/2 in. 4-ply, but were prepared to sell at $370/msf. The reported price was $370/msf – unchanged from the previous week and $59 (18.97%) higher than the price reported a year ago of $311/msf.

The Western fir plywood composite held at $582/msf for a second week after dropping $6 in the week before, and was $126 (27.63%) higher than the price reported a year ago of $456/msf.

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