Western Pallet Magazine April 2026 | Page 15

April 2026

April came on with many lumber prices rising slightly. Levels currently were right in the middle, between those of the same time last year and in 2024. Despite an extended winter and soft demand, this is encouraging to industry as regular seasonal price stability is best for planning.

Sawmills made no moves to ramp up production volumes until there were obvious signs that improved demand would be ongoing. Customers, behaving with equal caution, continued to not stock inventory. If home building does increase this year, the very weak field inventories throughout the supply chain might become a problem for end-users.

In this market of low production volumes and tight field inventories, the spread between #3/Utility grade and #2/Standard started to close. Prices of these lower-grade items rose by a greater margin than those of construction framing lumber.

KEY COMMENT:

It was a mix of contemplative digestion on this holiday-shortened week, while Southern Yellow Pine prices continued to show strength. The hemlock/fir complex finally joined the party.

Graph: Western-SPF & SYP 2x4 prices comparison

In the week ending April 3, 2026 the price of Western Spruce-Pine-Fir 2x4 #2&Btr KD (RL) was US$490 mfbm, which was up $5, or 1%, from the previous week when it was $485, said weekly forest products industry price guide newsletter Madison’s Lumber Reporter.

That week’s price was up $18, or 4%, from one month ago when it was $472.

For that same time period, the price of WSPF 2x4 #3/Utility was US$418 mfbm which was up $32, or 8%, from the previous week when it was $386. That week’s price was up $37, or 10%, from one month ago when it was $381.

As for WSPF 2x6 #3/Utility KD (RL), that price was US$306 mfbm which was flat from the previous week, and up $12, or 4%, from the previous month when it was $295.

KEY TAKE-AWAYS:

  • Sellers of Western-SPF in the US were inundated with orders and inquiry, such that they just had to focus on covering what demand they could.

  • Improving spring weather fully activated construction in Texas, and started to percolate into the Central and Northern states.

  • Limited mill availability continued to be exposed by even small jumps in demand as reduced supply among secondary suppliers surfaced.

  • Buyers of Western-SPF in Canada stepped back to evaluate their positions heading into the Easter holiday long weekend break.

  • Demand remained seasonally subpar as the calendar turned to April.

  • Secondary suppliers showed adequate inventory levels and a willingness to negotiate.

  • Canadian sawmills in the West maintained order files at around two to three weeks.

  • All regions were affected by tightening truck supply and soaring freight rates.

  • Customers of Eastern SPF showed how underbought they were by calling back incessantly about where their latest order was in transit.

  • Suppliers of Southern Yellow Pine tried to fulfill orders amid a rising market and severe ongoing freight challenges.

  • In the US northeast, Douglas fir suppliers boosted their asking prices as sawmills moved order files into late-April.

    • Graph: Western-SPF & SYP 2x6 prices comparison

    In the week ending April 3, 2026, the price of Southern Yellow Pine West Side 2x4 #2&Btr KD (RL) was US$435 mfbm. This was up $5, or 1%, from the previous week when it was $430.

    That week’s price was up $20, or 5%, from one month ago when it was $415.

    As well, for the beginning of April, SYP West 2x4 #3/Utility KD (RL) was US$345 mfbm, which was up $5, or 1%, from the previous week when it was $340 and was up $26, or 8%, from one month ago when it was $319.

    As for SYP West 2x6 #3/Utility KD (RL), that price was US$365 mfbm, which was up +$5, or +1%, from the previous week when it was $360 and was up +$16, or +5%, from one month ago when it was $349.

    Construction activity in the US south jumped to life at the beginning of April, sending lumber prices slightly higher. Important regions like Texas and California came in to the market with volume buys. Lumber manufacturers were more focussed on booking orders than on raising prices.

    Transportation was more of a headache than even the previous week; as the collision of jumping freight rates and competition from seasonal items made sourcing rail cars and trucks difficult. Operators spent more time chasing down deliveries than making sales.