Western U.S. sawmills produced 7.406 billion board ft. (bbf) of softwood lumber in the first half of 2018, a 7.1% increase from 6.915 bbf in the first six months of 2017, the Western Wood Products Assn. (WWPA) of Portland, Oregon, reported.

Of the six-month total, Coastal mills accounted for 4.678 bbf, up 8.1% from 4.326 bbf last year, while inland mills produced 2.517 bbf, up 6.8% from 2.356 bbf in the first half of 2017. California redwood production dropped to 212 million board ft. (mmbf), down 9.4% from 234 mmbf in the previous year.

In June alone, Western U.S. sawmills produced 1.226 bbf, a decline of 1.0% from 1.239 bbf in the year before, and down 4.3% from 1.281 bbf in May 2018.

Coastal mills contributed 766 mmbf to June’s output, a year-over-year gain of 0.7% from 770 mmbf, but down 3.6% from 805 mmbf in May 2018. Inland mills accounted for 408 mmbf – down 3.3% from 422 mmbf a year earlier, and down 5.8% from 433 mmbf in the previous month.

California redwood production in June was 43 mmbf, an 8.9% year-over-year drop from 47 mmbf, and 1.1% lower that output in May 2018 of 43 mmbf.

Western softwood lumber inventories in June grew 5.4% to 1.231 bbf from last year’s 1.167 bbf.

Production as a percent of practical capacity was 83% in June, level with 83% in May 2018 and up from 80% in June last year. Average production as a percent of practical capacity for the six months to June was 83%, up from 77% in the first half of 2017.