Recovering somewhat from multiple supply disruptions, for January to November 2021 softwood lumber production volumes across North America rose slightly compared to the same time in 2020, according to Madison’s Lumber Reporter .
Sawmill capacity utilization rates in the United States were dropped a little while those in Canada rose somewhat but were still lower than historical level.
For the first eleven months of 2021 softwood lumber production in the US improved by +1.3% from the same time last year, according to the Western Wood Products Assn.’s Lumber Track report for November.
US lumber production volumes were 34,169 mmfbm compared to January to November of 2020 when it was 33,739 mmfbm. Looking at the month of November 2021 against the previous month: US softwood lumber production was 2,798 mmfbm in November 2021 compared to 3,134 mmfbm in October, and was a -3.1% drop compared to November 2020.
Meanwhile in Canada, for January to November 2021 production volumes continued improving as several supply constraints were worked out. Canada sawmill manufacturing was up +4.2%, to 22,084 mmfbm, compared to the first eleven months of 2020 when it was 21,202 mmfbm. Specifically in British Columbia — which accounts for 50% of Canadian lumber manufacturing and sales — sawmill production volumes for January to November 2021 grew by +6.2%, to 8,683 mmfbm, compared to the same time in 2020 when it was 8,172 mmfbm.
Bild: wwpa.org
US sawmill production as a per cent of practical capacity for the first eleven months of 2021 dropped by a small amount, at 84%, compared to the same time in 2020 when it was 86%, said the Western Wood Products Association’s monthly Lumber Track.
Rising but still lower than historical norm, Canadian sawmill production as a per cent of practical capacity in January to November 2021 was flat from the previous month at 80% compared to the first ten months of 2020 when it only 79%.
