As the calendar turned to the week between the Canadian and US respective May long weekends, most lumber prices remained generally flat. After a sizeable run-up earlier this year, Southern Yellow Pine East side 2×4 prices corrected all the way back down to where it had been in January and February. For its part, benchmark…

There was no sense of urgency in the week prior to Canada’s May long weekend, with the US heading into theirs the following weekend. While lumber sales were proceeding at nominal volumes, there remained external factors causing issues. Specifically deliveries were a big uncertainty, both in regard to sourcing trucks and rail cars and with…

The dual mid-May long weekends in Canada and the US provided a break for North America lumber sales. Top of everyone’s minds was delivery; freight charges and tight supply of trucks and rail cars. Conversations swirled about where was wood previously ordered in the supply chain, and what was the expected date of that arrival.…

As May dawned most players in the North America lumber industry remained firmly on the side of caution. While there was a welcome increase in lumber demand since April, most prices remained flat. Sales volumes continued to be lower than was the busy spring season historically. Inventories of solid wood material throughout the supply chain…

It was a very unexciting start to spring for North American softwood lumber manufacturers. Demand remained muted as customers felt only more cautious about external factors like macro-economic conditions and skyrocketing fuel prices. Sellers responded by continuing to keep their sold wood inventories low, as confusion reigned and no one wanted to get stuck with…