The trend line for benchmark softwood lumber commodity item Western S-P-F 2×4 has been quite stable this year, from the lowest price of US$426 mfbm right at the beginning of 2026, to a high of $516 during July.
Western S-P-F 2×4 prices had a spread of $90 mfbm; quite normal historically throughout the course of a year.
For its part though, Southern Yellow Pine 2×4 East Side took a wild ride up and down a couple of times; from US$450 mfbm at the start of January up to a high of $595 in April then again $557 in June.
Only to land now in the middle of August at US$447 mfbm … lower than the very beginning of the year. A quick look at that Southern Pine price graph on this page shows just how over-ambitious those sellers were
in view of what the market could bear. Especially in comparison with the Western S-P-F graph which has a very stable trend line.
In the week ending August 14, 2026 the price of Western Spruce-Pine-Fir 2×4 #2&Btr KD (RL) was US$490 mfbm, which was down -$26, or -5% from the previous week when it was $516, said weekly forest products industry price guide newsletter Madison’s Lumber Reporter. That week’s price was down -$15, or -4%, from one month ago when it was $505.
Supply was tighter than it seemed, even as bellwether items weakened in price across most categories.
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KEY TAKE-AWAYS:
• Western-SPF traders in the United States watched buyers retreat to the sidelines.
• Following the typical late-summer trend, Western-SPF demand in Canada continued to wane.
• The penchant among buyers to hold perilously thin inventories while surviving on hand-to-mouth orders continued.
• Retail customers and other buyers of Eastern-SPF disappeared in the usual late-summer slumber.
• The lack of Euro wood in Eastern US ports through June and July was pronounced.
• The Eastern zone of Southern Yellow Pine was in price discovery mode as mills scrambled to find tradable numbers.
• Eastern Stocking Wholesalers at the ports in New Jersey had a breather as demand took a nap.
• All players were extremely interested to see where the market lands after Labour Day.
Madison’s Benchmark Top-Six Softwood Lumber and Panel Prices: Monthly Averages
