US lumber market slowed by winter logistics disruptions as buyers keep inventories tight

Harsh winter weather and transport disruptions continued to affect the North American lumber market through February, leaving many buyers and sellers focused on tracking shipments already moving through the supply chain rather than placing new orders. Although rail cars and trucks gradually became more available during the month, deliveries continued to take longer than usual. Logistics remained the dominant concern for many market participants, with both suppliers and customers spending considerable time locating transport capacity and tracing delayed shipments. Supply in the market remained relatively limited, partly because buyers were reluctant to increase inventories. Builders and distributors kept ...