The end of October marked a true “wait-and-see” week for softwood lumber buyers across North America.
Suppliers tried to hold firm on price quotes as level kept slipping on many commodities. Yet more sawmill curtailment rumours did nothing to stimulate an increase in buying, if anything customers became even more cautious.
Once again transportation issues dominated conversations, as many buyers had longer wait times to receive their wood.
Indeed, pallet manufacturers were a rare bright spot, as the burgeoning holiday season increased demand for pallets and packaging material.
This same pre-Holiday activity took already tight truck and rail car supply away from sawmills in Canada and the US.
In the week ending October 30, 2026 the price of Western Spruce-Pine-Fir 2×4 #2&Btr KD (RL) was US$405 mfbm, which was down -$49, or -11%, from the previous week when it was $454, said weekly forest products industry price guide newsletter Madison’s Lumber Reporter.
That week’s price was down -$41, or -9%, from one month ago when it was $446.
The uneven decline in S-P-F and Hemlock/Fir prices persisted this week even as field inventories were down to bare pavement.
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KEY TAKE-AWAYS:
• Demand for Western-SPF in the US was sluggish as buyers again showed zero urgency.
• Curtailment rumours buzzed so no one seemed willing to make the first move.
• Pallet manufacturers were a rare bright spot, as the burgeoning holiday season increased demand for pallets and packaging material.
• There was a persistently lethargic tone for Western-SPF sellers in Canada as downward price pressure gave buyers reason to pause.
• Eastern-SPF sales were undeniably in a period of seasonal weakness.
• That market was characterized by shoddy demand and plenty of transactions well-below print levels.
• It was a rudderless week again for Southern Yellow Pine as consistently tradable price levels eluded sawmills.
Madison’s Benchmark Top-Six Softwood Lumber and Panel Prices: Monthly Averages
