WPA Magazine July 2026 | Página 14

14 WESTERN PALLET

The May Long Weekends Kept Lumber Demand Soft

In the context of ongoing significant sawmill curtailments and lowered lumber production volumes, together with what seems like still muted new housing construction activity, it will be interesting to see where solid wood prices go for the remainder of this year.

Given the different market situation for the forest products’ industry compared to historical seasonal price trends, mid-year 2026 is a good time to recap where benchmark lumber prices are now compared to recent years:

Western S-P-F 2x4 currently US$500 mfbm

Two Years Ago $384: +$116 or 30%

Three Years Ago $390: +$110 or 22%

Eastern S-P-F 2x4 currently US$620 mfbm

Two Years Ago $475: +$145 or 23%

Three Years Ago $492: +$128 or 21%

Southern Yellow Pine 2x4 East Side currently US$518 mfbm

Two Years Ago $360: +$158 or 44%

Three Years Ago $417: +$101 or 19%

KEY COMMENT

Bare field inventories ran up against ongoing limited supply, creating a low-key early-summer buying frenzy.

Graph: Western-SPF & SYP 2x4 prices comparison

In the week ending July 03, 2026 the price of Western Spruce-Pine-Fir 2x4 #2&Btr KD (RL) was US$500 mfbm, which was 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.

For that same time period, the price of WSPF 2x4 #3/Utility was US$454 mfbm which was up $6, or 1%, from the previous week when it was $448. That week’s price was up $9, or 2%, from one month ago when it was $445.

As for WSPF 2x6 #3/Utility KD (RL), that price was US$334 mfbm which was flat from the previous week, and down $4, or 1%, from the previous month when it was $338.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Overall supply of Western-SPF in the US was persistently well-short of typical levels for this time of year.

Sales of Western-SPF in Canada was considered one of the best showings so far in 2026.

Downstream consumption was steady.

Fibre baskets across the continent were beset by hot and dry weather, with severe wildfires already erupted.

Some customers did their best to hold off buying if they had positions to sit on, but most were reluctantly forced to pay higher prices.

Limited state of supply of Eastern-SPF was increasingly apparent as sawmills showed firm or upward pricing.

Buyers in the East scrambled to cover short-term inventory needs.

Buyers of Southern Yellow Pine with thin inventory positions were tearing out their hair searching for amenable tallies in definable delivery times.

Reports indicated that many southern mills were running upwards of two weeks behind on shipments.

Graph: Western-SPF & SYP 2x6 prices comparison

In the week ending July 03, 2026, the price of Southern Yellow Pine West Side 2x4 #2&Btr KD (RL) was US$435 mfbm, which was up $5, or 1%, from the previous week when it was $430.

That week’s price was up $15, or 4%, from one month ago when it was $420.

As well, for the end of June, SYP West 2x4 #3/Utility KD (RL) was US$365 mfbm, which was flat from the previous week and was up $4, or 1%, from one month ago when it was $361.

As for SYP West 2x6 #3/Utility KD (RL), that price was US$340 mfbm, which was flat from the previous week and was up +$4, or +1%, from one month ago when it was $336.

Contrary to the usual seasonal trend historically, late-June construction framing softwood lumber prices rose somewhat this year. Traditionally by this time most customers had ordered, and indeed received, the wood they needed for summer building projects. As prices have generally started softening, the trend lines tend to drop starting in June.

This, of course, is not every single year as disruptions like labour disputes, transportation delays, wildfires, or an unexpected spike in new home building have at times increased lumber prices during summer.

In 2026 it seems the reason for flat-to-higher wood prices is the ongoing decrease of supply. As the continent heads into the truly hot months, when Québec takes its annual 2-week restriction on industrial operations and construction, as well asother regions where high temperatures prohibit this kind of activity; the balance of supply-and-demand will become more clear.

At this point, no one knows how the lumber market will play out through July and into August.

Keta Kosman is the owner of the weekly Madison’s Lumber Reporter, the premiere source for North American softwood lumber and pellet news, prices, industry insight, and industry contacts. Established in 1952, Madison’s publishes current Canadian and U.S. construction framing dimension lumber and panel wholesaler pricing information 50 weeks a year and provides access to historical pricing as well.

Keta Kosman

Publisher

Madison’s Lumber Reporter, est. 1952

Vancouver, BC, Canada

www.madisonsreport.com

604 319-2266