It was this very week, in mid-September last year, that Madison’s pointed out the price of benchmark softwood lumber commodity item Western S-P-F KD 2×4 #2&Btr crested the same week in 2023.
The data shows this week again, price levels intersect exactly. As Madison’s has noted in recent weeks; a return to normal annual up and down of lumber prices seasonally throughout the year has returned to trend lines of years past. Which provides good insight and information for sawmill operators to make their plans for future production volumes, in view of the building season next year.
In the week ending September 19, 2025 the price of Western Spruce-Pine-Fir 2×4 #2&Btr KD (RL) was US$430 mfbm, which was up +$10, or +2%, from the previous week when it was $420, said weekly forest products industry price guide newsletter Madison’s Lumber Reporter.
That week’s price was down -$71, or -14%, from one month ago when it was $501.
Most players described a dismal lumber market; optimistic reports were few and far between.
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KEY TAKE-AWAYS:
- Western-SPF suppliers in the US reported slightly better sales, but blunted by waffling commodity prices and poor follow-through from buyers.
- Sawmills trimmed production schedules and cleaned up much of their on-ground inventories thus avoided entertaining the steep counteroffers of yesterweek.
- In Canada Western-SPF prices were mostly flat, although bread-and-butter widths hovered on either side of the previous week’s numbers.
- Ongoing production curtailments did nothing to prompt customers to take longer positions with their inventories.
- Reports from Eastern-SPF sellers varied considerably, but field inventories remained sparse by all accounts.
- A troubling lack of urgency persisted among buyers of Southern Yellow Pine.
- Weak prices and plentiful supply gave customers ample opportunity to pick off what they needed.
- Eastern stocking wholesalers reported lumber consumption was well-below seasonal norms.
- Inventory holders at the ports in New Jersey sold under replacement levels and struggled to court business.
Madison’s Benchmark Top-Six Softwood Lumber and Panel Prices: Monthly Averages
