Western U.S. sawmills produced 1.245 billion board ft. (bbf) of softwood lumber in January, down 2.3% from January 2019 when output was 1.275 bbf, but up 10.0% compared with December 2019’s 1.132 bbf, according to the latest figures from the Western Wood Products Assn. (WWPA) of Portland, Oregon.
Coastal mills contributed 758 million board ft. (mmbf) to the January total, down 4.8% from January 2019’s 797 mmbf but up 7.7% from December’s 704 mmbf, while inland mills accounted for 439 mmbf – up 2.3% from January 2019’s 429 mmbf and up 15.3% from December’s 381 mmbf. California redwood production in January was down 2.7% year-over-year and up 1.5% month-over-month to 48 mmbf.
Western U.S softwood lumber inventories in January at 1.275 bbf were down 3.1% compared with 1.316 bbf in January 2019.
Western lumber mills in January produced at 82% of practical capacity, the same as December 2019 and up from 81% in January 2019.