February Drew To A Close And Across The Continent Weather Conditions
Improved So The Usual Buying Of Lumber In Advance Of Approaching Spring
Building Season Got Going.
As such, lumber prices also increased. The ongoing situation of depleted
inventories and cautious purchasers made the reality of limited supply even
more stark. Customers had to hunt around at sawmills and wholesalers to find
the exact tallies of wood they needed.
Confusion continued to reign regarding potential / actual tariffs, and what
that meant for Canadian wood crossing the border into the US. The added —
and unnecessary — constraints caused by politics, rather than business
conditions, did nothing to improve already difficult circumstances for the
building materials industry.
Players complained about spending so much time navigating the daily changing
landscape with lumber trade, instead of just getting on with regular
operating.
In the week ending February 28, 2025 the price of Western Spruce-Pine-Fir
2×4 #2&Btr KD (RL) was US$525 mfbm, which is up +$40, or +8%, from the
previous week when it was $485, said weekly forest products industry price
guide newsletter Madison’s Lumber Reporter.
That week’s price is up +$80, or +18%, from one month ago when it was $445.
Compared to the same week last year, when it was us$442 mfbm, the price of
western spruce-pine-fir 2×4 #2&btr kd (rl) for the week ending February 28,
2025 was up +$83, or +19%.
Compared to two years ago when it was $417, that week’s price was up +$108,
or +96%.
KEY TAKE-AWAYS:
Buyers in the US increasingly turned to stateside producers; the wood cost
more but brought guaranteed shipment.
With spring construction on the horizon, purchasers on both sides of the
border lamented slim inventories and a tariff deadline.
There was a persistent worry that limited overall supply won’t be enough to
cover spring needs.
Canadian sawmills saw decreasing US inquiry as the early-March tariff
deadline approached.
Demand was further disrupted by frigid winter weather across much of Eastern
Canada and the Northeastern United States.
Traders in the Eastern United States anticipated a lack of prompt Euro wood
in early March due to logistical delays.
Southern Yellow Pine sawmills varied considerably by region; some held firm
on asking prices while others were more open to counter-offers.
MADISON’S BENCHMARK TOP-SIX SOFTWOOD LUMBER AND PANEL PRICES: MONTHLY
AVERAGES
Source:
madisonsreport.com
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