Supply disruptions are continuing to plague the national lumber market, according to a new industry report.
“Low sitting inventory at mills and extended lead times on shipments are back to being the norm,” says the Greenville, South Carolina-based New South Construction Supply service in its most recent market survey.
But “pricing continues to climb as availability continues to decline,” continues the report, noting that “import lumber typically used to offset domestic supply chain issues is also seeing supply side constraints.”
The matter is only made worse by continuing port logistics and transportation issues.
The report also notes that many of the European spruce, pine, and fir loads moving through the nation’s ports “are arriving to their final destination weeks after originally promised.” That pattern is expected to remain constant until at least early April.
The continuing problems with import lumber have only naturally impacted its price at the retail level.
Last week in a company earnings call, Ted Decker, chief executive officer of Home Depot, noted that the price for framing lumber has doubled in the final quarter of last year, increasing from just under $600 to more than $1,200 per thousand board feet.
Decker added that, overall, lumber prices “remain volatile.”
By Garry Boulard
