As Madison’s is preparing the next issue of our quarterly Forest Pulse, this seems like a good time to update readers on a ten-year price trend comparison of several of the most commonly-traded softwood lumber commodity prices.
Three Main 2×4 Construction Framing Dimension Lumber Prices: 10 Years
Benchmark Western Spruce-Pine-Fir KD 2×4 #2&Btr Prices Ten Year Trend
The value WSPF 2×4 lumber dropped to a low of US$146 mfbm in January 2009, then popped to a high of US$401 mfbm in February 2013 before landing at US$330 mfbm this week.
Eastern Spruce-Pine-Fir KD 2×4 #2&Btr Prices Ten Year Trend
The value ESPF 2×4 lumber dropped to a low of US$245 mfbm in February 2009, then popped to a high of US$483 mfbm in February 2013 before landing at US$430 mfbm this week.
Southern Yellow Pine East Side KD 2×4 #2&Btr Prices Ten Year Trend
The value Southern Yellow Pine 2×4 East Side lumber dropped to a low of US$221 mfbm for most of 2009, then popped to a high of US$433 mfbm in February 2013 then US$456 mfbm in September 2014, before landing at US$425 mfbm this week.
Western Spruce-Pine-Fir Standard Construction Grade vs Utility Grade: 10 Years
Since the sharp increase of China imports of Canadian lumber in 2010, the price relationship between WSPF 2×4 standard grade and utility grade has been closely watched, because #3/Utility grade was the largest volume purchased by customers in China.
But for the past couple of years, due to a drop in volumes bought by China, the relationship of WSPF KD 2×4 #3/ Utility prices to #2&Btr has again loosened.
Western Spruce-Pine-Fir KD 2×4 #3/Utility Prices Ten Year Trend
The value WSPF KD 2×4 #3/Utility lumber dropped to a low of US$101 mfbm in January 2009, then popped to a high of US$348 mfbm in January 2013. It then hit another low, of US$137 mfbm in mid 2015, before landing at US$252 mfbm this week.
Douglas fir green 2×4 #2&Btr Prices Ten Year Trend
The value Douglas fir green 2×4 lumber dropped to a low of US$140 mfbm in March 2009, then popped to a high of US$384 mfbm in February 2013. It then hit another high, of US$396 mfbm in Janaury 2014, before landing at US$250 mfbm this week.
Canadian Softwood Plywood Vancouver vs OSB Ontario: 10 Years
Oriented Strand Board 7/16” Ontario Prices Ten Year Trend
The value OSB 7/16” panel dropped to a low of C$152 msf in January 2008, popping briefly to a high of C$405 msf in March 2010 then immediately dropping back down.
The next high was C$461 msf in January 2013, be- fore limping up to C$385 msf this week.
Canadian Softwood Plywood 9.5 mm Vancouver Prices Ten Year Trend
The value Canadian Softwood Plywood 9.5 mm To- ronto panel dropped to a low of C$253 msf in March 2009, popping briefly to a high of C$365 msf in March 2010 then immediately dropping back down.
The next high was C$450 msf in mid 2012 then ply- wood prices struggled to maintain their levels, even- tually reaching a new high of C$490 in mid 2014 msf before landing at C$481 msf this week.