February 10, 2021 As we enter 2021, housing starts are anticipated to increase around 6.3%, according to RISI projections, to 1.485 million. The single-family portion of starts has recently hit 80% of total starts while multi-family has suffered due to COVID-related issues. Low inventory of houses...
January 15, 2021 December 2020 a positive trajectory for plywood sales Plywood markets December plywood markets were atypical from a historical perspective. Typically, December is a month where producers consider extended holiday shutdowns to make repairs and upgrades and begin the New Year with hope for positive markets....
December 14, 2020 Wood products markets fell from historical highs over the last month, but the decline was short-lived. Purchasers overcame their fears of further declines last week and bought in earnest. Plywood prices increased over 10% as we sold 150 truckloads in one week and...
November 13, 2020 Last month was the first month since the start of the COVID epidemic that the plants ran almost to full production. Almost, because the Co-gen plant and Plant 4 were both down the end of October for a superheater tube repair at the...
October 19, 2020 After a difficult month of fires, production has resumed and increased with added personnel. After a year, we are seeing progress in the claim against Brazilian plywood, which could have a dramatic impact on markets. The last month has been difficult for everyone. We...
September 14, 2020 I do not think anyone could have predicted a surging wood products market after the COVID crisis wrecked our nation’s economy. But that is what we are currently experiencing; a perfect storm has emerged. This is leading to wood product shortages across the...
August 10, 2020 It is amazing the difference that two months can make. Our markets are in a dramatically different place than early May, when COVID restrictions forced us to take a week down at most of our operations. Prior to our May shutdown, we were...
July 13, 2020 As states have opened after COVID-19 shutdowns, we have seen a rebound in plywood demand and significant improvement in wood product markets. ½” 4-ply sheathing is up 65% from market lows, reaching $530 last week in the Random Lengths panel report. Our plywood...
June 8, 2020 Plywood price increases have been significant and sustained over the last 4 weeks. Half inch 4-ply CDX plywood started May at a low of $358 due to COVID-19. We have seen plywood prices increase to over $450 in the space of 4 weeks....
May 8, 2020 We are now in the middle of a one-week shutdown as we match our plywood production levels to the sales that are available in the marketplace. COVID- 19 and the subsequent shutdown of economies around the world have wreaked havoc on wood products...