A decidedly underwhelming 2025 spring building season slid into the usual summer slow-down for the North American lumber industry.
Only the continued sawmill curtailments helped keep most prices generally flat, as demand remained uninspired at best. Customers made the rounds between producers and secondary suppliers in search of the best deals they could find. The sawmills, having kept manufacturing volumes reduced, were able to build out their order files past the two-week mark.
As such, they were not much inclined to hear counter-offers, keeping their prices generally firm. Resellers were more amenable to negotiating,
if only to move wood out of their storage yards. For their part, purchasers continued their now long-time habit of not stocking inventory and of just-in-time buying.
In the week ending June 27, 2025 the price of Western Spruce-Pine-Fir 2×4 #2&Btr KD (RL) was US$480 mfbm, which is up +$5, or +1%, from the previous week when it was $475, said weekly forest products industry price guide newsletter Madison’s Lumber Reporter.
That week’s price was up +$34, or +8%, from one month ago when it was $446.
Sales of Eastern S-P-F began to pull ahead of Western, while demand for Southern Yellow Pine continued to flounder.
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KEY TAKE-AWAYS:
- As June waned, lukewarm demand followed an underwhelming spring building season.
- Persistently cautious Western S-P-F buying was balanced by middling supply in both Canada and the US.
- While demand for Eastern S-P-F remained below seasonal standards, firming prices and limited supply prompted increased sales.
- Order files at Eastern sawmills extended through the two-week summer shutdowns planned for late July.
- Extreme heat in the US Southeast affected building activity, while thunderstorms in the Southwest disrupted forestry operations for Southern Yellow Pine operators.
- Eastern stocking wholesalers noted that Douglas fir mills kept their prices firm, were not receptive to major counter offers.
Madison’s Benchmark Top-Six Softwood Lumber and Panel Prices: Monthly Averages
