Lumber shipments reported to NELMA through the 3rd quarter of 2011 show an overall decrease compared with the same 10-month period of 2010, with a total of 607 million board feet of product reported to the Association by its manufacturing members.  This total shipment figure was down 1.5% from the 616 million board feet reported last year for the same time period.  Dimension grade lumber totaled 316 million for the year thus far, some 4% less than last year, and accounts for the overall shipment drop.  Eastern White Pine’s shipments were reported at 291 million board feet, a modest increase over year-to-year by 1.2%.

For the month of October, the amount of Dimension lumber shipped in 2011 (33.2 million board feet) was below both 2010 and 2009 data by 6% and 2.4% respectively.  Eastern White Pine came in at 29.7 million board feet shipped for the month, above both 2010 and 2009 by 1.8% and 7.6%.

A monthly comparison for shipments of Dimension grade lumber and Eastern White Pine are provided in the graphs below: