Shipments of Canadian lumber may have hit record levels last year but the forestry companies ended up either losing money or making small profits, the Canadian Lumbermen’s Association convention has heard.
Total softwood shipments in 2002 were 30.9 million board feet, up from 27.5 million in 2001.
The big demand for lumber during 2002 was generated by the US, where housing starts reached 1.7 million units, the highest level since the mid-1980s. Single-family house starts in January this year were the highest monthly total since November 1978.
Convention speakers said prices were expected to remain low during 2003, perhaps hitting between C$225-230 per thousand board feet for British Columbia 2x4s. Prices declined to C$236 in 2002 compared with C$343 in 1999.
