US and especially Canadian softwood lumber production and sawmill capacity utilization rates reversed direction in June from sharp drops earlier in 2020 due to the lockdown caused by the COVID19 pandemic. Compared to one-year-ago, for January – June 2020 softwood lumber production in the US improved by +2%, says the latest issue of the Western…

As Madison’s had suggested last week, the unprecedented increases in North America construction framing softwood lumber prices seen so far during 2020 slowed somewhat last week. Normally by Labour Day customers have ordered, and indeed received, their wood for ongoing and expected projects to the end of the year. Usually in early September prices have…

Here is a SNEAK PEAK at tomorrow’s print benchmark Western Spruce-Pine-Fir (WSPF) softwood lumber prices: “Demand eased somewhat, or possibly suppliers just did not have prompt wood on hand to sell. Lumber prices continued to rise but by smaller increments than during the past couple of months. Replacement items were again more popular than the…

While North American softwood lumber prices continued to climb last week, there was a palpable reduction in the enthusiasm of buyers. Normally by Labour Day end-users are well stocked up with the wood they need for ongoing building projects thus are not placing new orders for September or October delivery. However, all can agree that…

Case-Shiller: National House Price Index increased +4.3% year-over-year in June As an example, if a house price was US$200,000 in January 2000, the price would be close to US$289,000 today adjusted for inflation (+45%).  That is why this graph is important – this shows “real” prices (adjusted for inflation). In real terms, US house prices are…

Here is a SNEAK PEAK at tomorrow’s print benchmark Western Spruce-Pine-Fir (WSPF) softwood lumber prices: “Madison’s is starting to run out of adjectives for how unknown the softwood lumber market is right now, as prices increase by never-before-seen increments to unprecedented highs.” — Madison’s Lumber Reporter This week prices rose by less than last week,…

More Funding for Canadian and US Cellulose Biomass Fuel Projects North Dakota Power Provider Gets Biomass-Conversion Research Funding The Blue Flint ethanol power plant near Underwood, ND, recently received a US$155,000 grant to research and determine the feasibility of converting the 70 MMgy ethanol unit to biomass. Blue Flint currently sources water and steam from…

The median sales price of new houses sold in July 2020 was US$330,600. The average sales price was US$391,300 Very few new homes sold were under US$150,000 in April 2020.  This is down from 30% in 2002.  In general, the stock of homes for sale under US$150,000 bracket is going away.     The surge in sales…

Madison’s Lumber Reporter advises North American forest products manufacturers to put on their seatbelts, as the latest housing market data indicates no stop to relentlessly rising softwood lumber prices any time soon. Currently, sawmills in Canada and the US simply can not keep up with ongoing very strong demand for house construction in both countries.…

Earlier this month very strong US housing starts data surprised everyone: Single-family housing starts in the US for July 2020 were at a rate of 983,000, as in June up +17%. The number of residential projects authorized but not yet started also advanced, to 101,000 units in July, the biggest backlog since the end of…

Here is a SNEAK PEAK at tomorrow’s print benchmark Western Spruce-Pine-Fir (WSPF) softwood lumber prices: “In a single week, softwood lumber prices increase by almost half the total price of recent lows.” — Madison’s Lumber Reporter In September 2015, the “recent-low” of lumber prices, benchmark commodity Western S-P-F KD 2x4s were selling for US$249 mfbm…

Single-family housing starts in the US for July 2020 were at a rate of 983,000, as in June up +17%. The number of residential projects authorized but not yet started also advanced, to 101,000 units in July, the biggest backlog since the end of 2018. For the week ending August 14, 2020, prices of standard…

Lightening strikes cause several fires across BC’s southern interior but heavy rain is expected tomorrow: Normally the BC government would have put in the fire ban by this time of late-summer (no heavy equipment in the forest to prevent sparking a fire). Due to that the sawmills stock up with logs well in advance of…

“Another spate of double digit softwood lumber price jumps underscored the ongoing insanity of lumber demand.” Softwood lumber prices just kept climbing last week as Canadian housing starts and home prices for July broke records. US housing starts this week were no different; new home building in the US increased +23% in July — the…