Douglas fir log prices remain strong throughout the Westside of Oregon and Washington. Lumber prices have been holding up, and plywood prices rose dramatically on the heels of the Chilean earthquake.
Regional Westside log prices for domestic Douglas fir 2S averaged $438 per MBF during March 2010. This is a significant turnaround from the depths of April 2009 when prices were in the $330 per MBF range. The last time prices exceeded $435 was December 2008, as they passed through on a slide from $500+ per MBF levels.
Hemlock prices were up slightly to approximately $370 per MBF. Asian export values settled a bit, and the export premium tightened to roughly $50 per MBF.
The Inland Empire is in full breakup at present. Inventories are thin, causing some mills to slow production while they wait for logging to start-up again. Expect higher Northwest log prices when the spring logging season begins in earnest.
Wood chip and residue prices remained flat across the PNW region. West of the Cascades, reasonably good demand for pulpwood continues. Prices are higher in the Puget Sound region, and hardwood pulp logs still show a 10 percent or greater premium over conifer across the board. In the Inland, pulpwood prices have dropped and remain low. Montana and North Idaho chip log prices have dropped 25 percent or more since fall 2009 in response to closure of the Missoula mill.
Suz-Anne Kinney
Forest2Market: July 14, 2023
