Into mid-July, softwood lumber buyers across the US and Canada had to cast a wide search to find wood.
Only those with immediate needs made purchases, looking mostly at smaller producers and secondary suppliers. Discounts on Western-SPF low grade and industrial stock, which were slow to move, suddenly appeared on sawmill price lists.
Sparse on-ground material to cover unexpected interruptions caused concern with purchasers about delayed shipments.
Supply of Southern Yellow Pine was hit-or-miss, with a heavy dependence on regionality.
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The latest US housing starts data showed a slight increase over the previous month and flat compared to June of 2024.
In the week ending July 18, 2025, the price of benchmark softwood lumber item Western Spruce-Pine-Fir 2×4 #2&Btr KD (RL) was US$500 mfbm. This is up +$4, or +1%, from the previous week when it was $496, said weekly forest products industry price guide newsletter Madison’s Lumber Reporter. That week’s price is up +$32, or +1%, from one month ago when it was $468.
Commodity prices were flat to up amid ongoing limited supply even as confusion regarding duties, and Eastern Canadian sawmills entering two-week summer shutdowns, caused a stir.
KEY TAKE-AWAYS:
- Buyers of Western-SPF lumber and studs in the United States looked to smaller domestic producers and secondary suppliers to cover their short-term needs.
- Canadian Western-SPF sawmills already started quoting with the anticipated duty increase added to their numbers.
- Several mills quietly discounted low grade and industrial stock which were slow to move.
- Any whiff of delayed shipments sent purchasers into apoplexy as they had sparse on-ground material to cover unexpected interruptions.
- Demand Eastern-SPF was solid, as overall supply levels remained questionable.
- Southern Yellow Pine players noted that the supply landscape was hit-or-miss, with a heavy dependence on regionality.
- In the US south, lead times varied from prompt to September with very little in-between.
- Jobsites in the tri-state area were quieter as crews worked limited hours to beat the heat.
- Vendors there held on to decent inventories with flat commodity prices.
Madison’s Benchmark Top-Six Softwood Lumber and Panel Prices: Monthly Averages
