As both canada and the us had their national holiday celebrations, the sales
of north american construction framing dimension softwood lumber slowed
somewhat.
Due to the ongoing situation of very tight inventories, some prices did
actually rise.
Customers who needed to buy wood had to search around among their contacts
to find the specific tallies they needed. The majority of conversations
continued to be about transportation, as rail cars and especially trucks
were difficult to source.
Indications were that transportation issues will become even more
challenging as freight conditions are indeed worsening.
The expected very hot weather arrived to large parts of the continent,
putting a slow-down to industrial activity, including home building.
Wildfires broke out in many timber-supply regions.
In the week ending July 03, 2026 the price of Western Spruce-Pine-Fir 2×4
#2&Btr KD (RL) was US$500 mfbm, which flat from the previous week, said
weekly forest products industry price guide newsletter Madison’s Lumber
Reporter.
That week’s price was up +$5, or +1%, from one month ago when it was $495.
Compared to the same week last year, when it was us$485 mfbm, the price of
western spruce-pine-fir 2×4 #2&btr kd (rl) for the week ending July 03, 2026
was up +$15, or +3%.
Compared to two years ago when it was $356, that week’s price was up +$144,
or +40%.
Most lumber commodities and plywood showed sustained price momentum
even in the face of dual national holiday celebrations in Canada and the US.
KEY TAKE-AWAYS:
• Sellers of Western-SPF in the US continued to be challenged by tight
inventories at all levels.
• Buyers there were often frustrated by a prevailing lack of availability of
mixed tallies and of specific items.
• Sawmills in the Pacific Northwest maintained order files into late July,
not pushing further as there could be opportunities to get higher numbers.
• Lean inventories of Western-SPF in Canada put pressure on buyers to come
back to the table frequently, securing short-term coverage
• With western Canadian sawmill order files into the back half of July,
players expected the market to retain its robustness into August.
• Eastern-SPF production was already running leaner than usual, and Québec
mills were entering their two-week summer shutdown period.
• Retailers continued to buy hand-to-mouth, finding themselves scrambling
more and more for coverage.
• The strength of demand for Southern Yellow Pine surprised both mills and
customers to varying degrees.
• Eastern Stocking Wholesalers struggled with both cross-country and
intrastate transportation, finding delivery times very inconsistent.
MADISON’S BENCHMARK TOP-SIX SOFTWOOD LUMBER AND PANEL PRICES: MONTHLY
AVERAGES
Source: madisonsreport.com
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