Header: Header: Header:

As brutal weather patterns continued across the most populated parts of North America, lumber and panel traders reported mostly flat prices on solid wood commodities, writes Keta Kosman, publisher of Madison’s Lumber Reporter.

Most commonly-traded dimensions maintained price levels from last week, or were slightly down. Wider sizes, specifically 2×10 and 2×12 took large corrections downward due to total lack of demand. On the other hand, utility grades, particularly in the west, popped somewhat as program buying from China took significant amounts of production out of the market.

Benchmark dimension lumber item WSPF KD 2×4 #2&Btr lost $8, or 2.1 per cent, from last week to close at US$368 mfbm. Players had little inquiry until Wednesday. Buying was described as “hot” on Thursday before Americans abandoned their offices Friday for the looming President’s Day holiday Monday. For it’s part, Western 2×4 #3/Utility prices jumped $4, or 1.7 per cent, to finish the week at US$236 mfbm.

Sawmills in the U.S. experienced continued demand despite the bad weather, as customers needed to fill holes in their inventory. In Canada, lumber producers entertained orders both from the U.S. and overseas, but it was the large buys from China that had everyone’s interest this week. On both sides of the border, mills reported comfortable order files out for two weeks or longer.

From Stockhouse: http://www.stockhouse.com/opinion/independent-reports/2014/02/17/lumber-producers-face-rail-transportation-nightmare