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…

Oil shock, housing, and trade uncertainty in focus at MWC: part II A panel of industry leaders at the recent Montréal Wood Convention examined key market drivers, including U.S. housing starts, mass timber growth, the repair and remodelling (R&R) segment, and ongoing trade uncertainty. Industry panel Moderated by Mark Allison of Boscus Canada, the discussion…

There was no noticeable increase in demand for North America construction framing dimension softwood lumber in the middle of April. Prices remained mostly flat, with some items correcting down slightly. Players spent a lot of time tracking down where was delivery of their solid wood products already ordered. Sellers were managing the location of trucks…

Oil shock, housing, and trade uncertainty in focus at MWC: part I Oil shocks, inflation and a softening economy are converging at a critical moment for North America, with potential ripple effects for the forest products sector, Benjamin Tal of CIBC Capital Markets told delegates at the Montreal Wood Convention. Industry leaders outline risks and…