lmproved Western markets, fog supply raise'94 output

Stable U.S. demand for lumber products, coupled with the resourcefulness of Western mills in finding the private logs needed to meet such demand, should allow the Western lumber industry to show a small improvement in output this year. However, an association executive cautioned. 1995 should challenge once again the lumber industry's ability to balance supply and demand.

reach 46.96 billion board feet this year, an increase of 2.5Vo from 1993, he reported. Much of the gain is due to improving consEuction, with housing starts expanding neuly 9Vo to 1.4 million this year.

"There has been little positive change in the timber supply should slip by less than l%o to 46.6 billion feet, with housing starts down by l.8Vo to 1.375 million. rT r situation on federal lands,

Robert H. Hunt, president of Westem Wood Products Association, told members meeting recently in Tucson, Az., that Westem mills should eke out a sain in lumber production for 1994, the first annual increase since 1987. Sawmills in the 12 Western states are expected to produce 17.03 billion board feet of lumber this year, up 0.3Vo from 1993.

U.S. lumber consumption will

^ srtuatron on rerrerer r,n.rs is needed, however, before we will see any long-term stability in 6\ long-term ln r.Y federal timber supplies," Hunt said. He added that logs from private lands and a shift of export logs to domestic sources has helped the supply situation this year.

Lumber markets and industry activity are expected to slow moderately in 1995. Lumber consumption

Residential construction will use 17.82 bilton feet of lumber in 1995, off 3.4Vo from this year. Repair and remodeling will account for 14.4 billion board feet of lumber usage, up almost l%o, and nonresidential construction will use 6.4 billion feet. Material handling and other uses will comprise the renainder of consumption volumes, with markets using about 4 billion board feet each. Western mills will provide 16.4 billion feet of lumber to U.S. markets next year, down 3.4Vo. The South also will see a slight dip in activity, shipping 14.59 billion feet to U.S. markets. tmpor6, which are expected to hit a record volume of 15.68 billion feet this year, should grow l.3Vo to 15.9 billion feet.

"Canada will remain the chief source of imported lumber, but we are seeing increasing volumes from other countries, too. In fact in 1995 we see Canadian imports declining by l%o, but that will be easily offset by a significant rise in imports from other countries," said Hunt. He added some 550 million feet of non-Canadian imports will enter the U.S. market next year, more than double the volume from 1993.

Lumber and log exports should continue on a downward trend in 1994 and 1995. Lumber exports from American mills will total2.25 billion board feet this year, off 5.37o from 1993, and decline neuly 9Vo in 1995.

Log exports from Pacific Ports will be down ZOVo this year and then fall another l1%o in 1995 to a volume of 1.56 billion board feet.

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Chains Update Key Services

Computerized key cutting is becoming a trend in larger home centers with miooprocessor control duplication systems in use in 894 of the 2508 stores represented by the 26 major home center chains, according to Axxess Technologies.

Builders Square, Channel, Grossman's, HomeBase, Home Quarters, Payless Cashways, Pergament, National Home Centen and Sutherland's reporcdly have key duplication centers in each of their units. Home Depot, BMC West and Hechinger are conducting pilot tests in selected stores.

FOR DOMESTIC SAES CAL: Jeny Long, Michael Parrella, Lynn Bethurum. Janet Parrella, Pete Ulloa, Bruce Keith, Matt Petersen.

FOR INTERNATIONA SAES CAL: Nestor Pimentel, Abel Flores.