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Sawmill capacity utilization rates improve in Jan-May 2020 compared to one year ago

A large proportion of lumber produced in Canada goes into U.S. home building. Like lumber prices, housing construction in the U.S. underwent a significant stall in spring. And, like lumber prices, it is recovering steadily from severe lows:

U.S. sawmill production as per cent of practical capacity for January to May 2020 dropped slightly, down by -1 per cent, to 83 per cent, compared to 84 per cent in the first five months of 2019, said the latest issue of the Western Wood Products Association’s monthly Lumber Track.

Canadian sawmill production as per cent of practical capacity yet again dropped significantly in Jan – May 2020, at 73 per cent compared to the first five months of 2019 when it was 82 per cent.

For softwood lumber production, meanwhile, compared to one-year-ago, in the first five months of 2020 softwood lumber production in the U.S. was almost flat, said the WWPA. For January to May 2020 U.S. lumber production volume increased by just +0.7 per cent to 14,825 mfbm compared to the first five months of 2019 when it was 14,720 mfbm.

Comparing the month of May to April 2020, U.S. softwood lumber production fell by -4.4 per cent, at 2,777 mfbm for May 2020.

In Canada softwood lumber production continued drastic drops, falling by another -15.9 per cent in the first five months of 2020, to 9,111 mfbm, compared to one-year-ago when it was 10,829 mfbm.

Comparing the month of May to April 2020, Canada softwood lumber production recovered nicely, up by +25 per cent, at 1,816 mfbm for May 2020 compared to 1,452 the previous month.