Oct 18, 2012. /Lesprom Network/. Universal Forest Products, Inc. (UFPI) announced 3Q 2012 results, including net sales of $533.4 million, an increase of 13.7% over net sales of $468.9 in the 3Q 2011. Net earnings were $4.2 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, compared to net earnings of $5.6 million, or $0.29 per diluted share, in the same period of 2011 and reflect a one-time, pretax charge of $2 million for a loss contingency associated with duties being assessed by the Canadian government on certain products imported from China, as the company said in the press release received by Lesprom Network. Universal saw strong sales growth in four of five markets, including increases of more than 30% in its residential construction and manufactured housing markets and of 20% in its industrial market. While sales were bolstered by a rising lumber market, the Company saw solid unit sales growth in these markets. Sales to retail building materials customers declined, although the Company saw strong success in its strategies to diversify its customer base and grow its product mix in that market. “We executed on the strategies we established, and I’m proud of our people,” said CEO Matthew J. Missad. “We grew sales, kept an eye on our expenses and continued to diversify via new products, new markets and with new customers. I believe we’re doing all the right things to grow our profitability and our success.” “Unfortunately, the Canadian government chose to impose retroactive assessments for antidumping and countervailing duties tied to certain extruded aluminum products imported from China. While we continue to work with the government to clarify the applicability of these rules to our products, we recorded a charge in the third quarter for this matter,” Missad added. Lumber prices, which affect the Company’s selling prices, were up 25.3% in the quarter. Universal Forest Products, Inc. is a holding company that provides capital, management and administrative resources to subsidiaries that design, manufacture and market wood and wood-alternative products for DIY/retail home centers and other retailers, structural lumber products for the manufactured housing industry, engineered wood components for residential and commercial construction, specialty wood packaging and components for various industries, and forming products for concrete construction.