Slight dip for westerrr lurnber rnills

f UMBER production in nearly I-levery western state declined modestlyiast year due to a slowing in the U.S. housing market, according to final 2000 state totals published by Western Wood Products Association.

The association released final industry figures for last year following its annual survey of nearly 300 mills in 13 western states.

Oregon again finished as the top lumber producing state in the country. Production in Oregon totaled 5.93 billion bd. ft.. down 2.17o from 1999. Estimated wholesale value of Oregon's lumber production was $2 billion.

Washington retained its position as the second-largest lumber producing state with 4.38 billion bd. ft., up 3.87o, worth an estimated $1.48 bil- volume was the second highest annual production volume since 1992. lion. California held its third position at3.ll billion bd. ft. with an estimated value of $1.36 billion.

Oregon, Washington and California accounted for more than 787o of the region's lumber output last year. Washington and South Dakota were the only states to realize production gains from the previous year.

Production and estimated wholesale value for other western states were:

. Idaho, 1.9 billion bd. ft., $704 million;

Montana, 1.2 billion bd. ft., $398 million;

. South Dakota, 170 million bd. ft., $57 million;

. Wyoming, 168 million bd. ft., $55 million;

. New Mexico, 86 million bd. ft., $29 million:

Colorado, 82 million bd. ft., $27 million;

. Arizona, 63 million bd. ft., $21 million, and Urah, 5l million bd. ft., $17 million.

There was no lumber production in Nevada in 2000. Alaska's lumber production totaled 85 million bd. ft. and was not factored into the western total.

Overall western lumber production in 2000 totaled 17.18 billion bd. ft., down 27o from 1999. Though lower, the volume was the second highest annual production volume since 1992. Estimated wholesale value of western lumber was $6. 15 billion, compared to $7.37 billion in 1999 and $6.1 I billion in 1998.

After reaching a record 54.3 billion bd. ft. in 1999. U.S. consumption dipped slightly in 2000 to 53.9 billion bd. ft. A 4.4% decl,ine in the number of new homes accounted for much of the decrease in lumber consumption. Housing starts totaled 1.57 million units in 2000, down from 1.64 million in 1999. Single-family housing, the largest market for lumber, declined 5.57o to 1.23 million units. Each new single-family home uses an average of 14,115 bd. ft. of softwood lumber.

During the first six months of this year, western lumber production fell 7.1Vo to 8.5 billion bd. ft., in parr due to rising imports from Canada after the expiration of the Softwood Lumber Agreement, according to WWPA.

Although reinstatement of a tariff provided a shot in the arm to U.S. mills, the lumber industry may be in for tougher times, at least until the spring building season.

"We think we're in for a tough first quarter," said Willamette Industries' Steve Killgore. "The prognosticators foresee a weakening in the first half of next year, but expect the building industry to show resiliency, with housins starts at about 1.55 million."