Latest News
Forestry Investment News
Softwood lumber prices up in Q4 2009
10/03/2010
Softwood lumber prices increased in North America and the Nordic countries in the fourth quarter of 2009, according to Wood Resource Quarterly.
In the US, prices for most lumber grades were higher in December 2009 than at any other time last year. In Canada prices remained fairly stable all autumn and then rose in December and in the Nordic countries prices continued to increase in the final two quarters of 2009 and ended the year higher than in 2008.
Wood Resource Quarterly believes the these price rises were a result of reduced production and a lowering of inventory levels.
Lumber production was 20 per cent down in the western US last year, and 24 per cent down in the southern states of the country, compared to 2008. In Canada sawmills ran at very low operating rates in the final quarter of last year with a capacity of only 45 per cent in December.
Lumber demand Asia is still leading the way, with China surpassing Japan last year as the largest importer. It increased its imports by 75 percent last year while demand for lumber in Japan was lower than a year earlier.
In the US, prices for most lumber grades were higher in December 2009 than at any other time last year. In Canada prices remained fairly stable all autumn and then rose in December and in the Nordic countries prices continued to increase in the final two quarters of 2009 and ended the year higher than in 2008.
Wood Resource Quarterly believes the these price rises were a result of reduced production and a lowering of inventory levels.
Lumber production was 20 per cent down in the western US last year, and 24 per cent down in the southern states of the country, compared to 2008. In Canada sawmills ran at very low operating rates in the final quarter of last year with a capacity of only 45 per cent in December.
Lumber demand Asia is still leading the way, with China surpassing Japan last year as the largest importer. It increased its imports by 75 percent last year while demand for lumber in Japan was lower than a year earlier.
RSS