GOLD BEACH LUMBER - BANDIT LUMBER PRICES MARKET REPORT

The Bandit Market Report, in existence since 2000, is published on a weekly basis and is intended to be a source of west coast lumber prices and commodities present, future, and pricing trend information.  We appreciate receiving some of this information from Do it Best Corporation.

Gold Beach Lumber values the opportunity to serve it's customers on the Southern Oregon Coast and provide you with Lumber prices and Commodities information.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Gold Beach Lumber price motion this week:  Trending down for the most part.

OSB Lumber Prices:   OSB continues to send mixed messages. Last week mills were able to hold prices firm in most regions. Order files were thin, but on the other hand, were not taking much in the way of inquiry. We know that retail inventories are lean. What we don't know is when the yearly push for panels will begin. Even though prices are up from the prior week's lows, we believe these levels are still a bargain. Look to future sales to decide which way this market will settle.

Western Plywood Lumber Prices:  Western plywood mills sat through a quiet week and numbers adjusted downward on sheathing as mills hunted for orders. Demand was slack locally. Speculative activity on CDX and ULAY was lean as well. Order files are one to two weeks, with sanded plywood and form the furthest out. Recommend dealers maintain a 30 day inventory.

Western SPF Lumber Prices:  Prices on western spruce are firmer as a result of Chinese buying over in prior weeks. North American business remains spotty with some distribution and wholesale purchasing needs due to the firming of prices. Forest fires in B.C. have forced some logging operations to shut down in the Northern Interior. Expect prices to remain firm to higher this week.

Treated Lumber Prices:  Treated prices were "hot" last week. Oh wait a minute . . . . . that was the weather, not pricing! Pricing continues to erode gradually while the summer heat along with the overall lack of business made for a slow week. Suppliers say they expect more of the same in upcoming weeks.

Coastal Dimension Lumber Prices  
Green Dimension:  Green Doug Fir sales were muted again for the week. Mill prices flattened and stayed in a narrow range. Prices will be flat in the near term. Strategy is to be covered for two weeks.

Dry Dimension:  US mills saw a round of replacement buying, allowing mills to bump prices modestly on most items. Buyers sought primarily to fill inventory holes with quick shipping mill trucks.

Transportation / Retail Diesel Fuel:  Lead times for trucks averaged two to three days last week in most areas. Do it Best has bolstered allocation levels with two select carriers for loads originating in the South and Southeast, and service levels are improving in these areas as a result. Generally prompt shipping in much of the rest of the nation has materialized.

Diesel fuel averaged $2.979 per gallon at the close of last week, representing a modest decrease from prior weeks. Overall, we forecast lead times for trucks will average two to three days for most regions during the next 30 days.

Gold Beach Weather Forecast:  Temperatures have dropped a bit and are only expected to reach the mid 60's until early next week when they are expected to slowly climb back into the mid 70's.  There is a small chance for rain showers this weekend.  Overnight lows remain in the mid 50's.