The end of October marked a true “wait-and-see” week for softwood lumber
buyers across North America.
Suppliers tried to hold firm on price quotes as level kept slipping on many
commodities. Yet more sawmill curtailment rumours did nothing to stimulate
an increase in buying, if anything customers became even more cautious.
Once again transportation issues dominated conversations, as many buyers had
longer wait times to receive their wood.
Indeed, pallet manufacturers were a rare bright spot, as the burgeoning
holiday season increased demand for pallets and packaging material.
This same pre-Holiday activity took already tight truck and rail car supply
away from sawmills in Canada and the US.
In the week ending October 30, 2026 the price of Western Spruce-Pine-Fir 2×4
#2&Btr KD (RL) was US$405 mfbm, which was down -$49, or -11%, from the
previous week when it was $454, said weekly forest products industry price
guide newsletter Madison’s Lumber Reporter.
That week’s price was down -$41, or -9%, from one month ago when it was
$446.
Compared to the same week last year, when it was us$487 mfbm, the price of
western spruce-pine-fir 2×4 #2&btr kd (rl) for the week ending October 30,
2026 was down -$33, or -7%.
Compared to two years ago when it was $388, that week’s price was up +$66,
or +17%.
The uneven decline in S-P-F and Hemlock/Fir prices persisted this week
even as field inventories were down to bare pavement.
KEY TAKE-AWAYS:
• Demand for Western-SPF in the US was sluggish as buyers again showed zero
urgency.
• Curtailment rumours buzzed so no one seemed willing to make the first
move.
• Pallet manufacturers were a rare bright spot, as the burgeoning holiday
season increased demand for pallets and packaging material.
• There was a persistently lethargic tone for Western-SPF sellers in Canada
as downward price pressure gave buyers reason to pause.
• Eastern-SPF sales were undeniably in a period of seasonal weakness.
• That market was characterized by shoddy demand and plenty of transactions
well-below print levels.
• It was a rudderless week again for Southern Yellow Pine as consistently
tradable price levels eluded sawmills.
MADISON’S BENCHMARK TOP-SIX SOFTWOOD LUMBER AND PANEL PRICES: MONTHLY
AVERAGES
Madison’s Lumber Prices Index
The Madison’s Lumber Prices Index for the week ending Nov 06, 2026 is:
US$449 mfbm
This is down -2%, or -$10, from the previous week when it was US$459.
This is down -10%, or -$50, from one month ago when it was US$499.
Source: madisonsreport.com
More Reports:
