The North American construction framing dimension softwood lumber market maintained a holding pattern at the beginning of February.
As quite harsh weather continued in many parts of Canada and the US, the focus was on transportation delays. Customers waited for shipment of solid wood products already ordered which were slowly moving somewhere along the supply chain. At these ongoing lower manufacturing volumes, most sawmills maintained order files out to a couple of weeks.
The goal for producers has been to keep supply in check with continued weak demand. At the same time, lumber manufacturers put their efforts during these slower months for construction activity into loading up their yards with logs.
This is usual for the winter months. As such, lumber producers are ready with plenty of fibre supply on hand for when demand increases once spring weather materializes.
In the week ending February 06, 2026 the price of Western Spruce-Pine-Fir 2×4 #2&Btr KD (RL) was US$460 mfbm, which was flat from the previous week when it was $460, said weekly forest products industry price guide newsletter Madison’s Lumber Reporter.
That week’s price was up +$12, or +4%, from one month ago when it was $449.
North American sawmills maintained firm pricing and decent order files, while buyers digested their current positions and pondered their next moves.
To subscribe to Madison’s Lumber Reporter, simply fill out an order form here: https://madisonsreport.com/subscribe/
KEY TAKE-AWAYS:
- Western-SPF sellers in the US felt that lower overall lumber supply could be a difference maker this year.
- These sawmills felt no urgency to push prices any further, nor to extend order files beyond the current two-ish weeks.
- Rail service in the West was increasingly unreliable; causing mills to run a couple of weeks behind on shipments.
- In Canada Western-SPF producers held their dimension asking prices firm, leaning on solid two- to three-week order files.
- The logistics pipeline for Eastern-SPF operators was backed up tremendously in the wake of the recent polar vortex.
- In the NorthEast, commodity prices climbed again.
- Southern Yellow Pine players described a constrained feel to business where demand wasn’t fully satisfied in many cases.
- Distributers of SYP felt pressure to replenish as persistent inquiry from buyers in secondary markets whittled their inventories down.
- Harsh weather in the US NorthEast caused logistical challenges, as Eastern Stocking Wholesalers dealt with rail car and truck delays.
Madison’s Benchmark Top-Six Softwood Lumber and Panel Prices: Monthly Averages
