Month: March 2023

255 posts

Reduced Manufacturing Volumes Push Lumber Prices Up

Despite somewhat soft demand, as many customers weren’t sure where prices were going so waited to buy, lumber prices popped up again in mid-February. This due mostly to ongoing capacity restrictions, especially in the important timber supply basket of British Columbia. As the spring building season fast approaches, end-users will not be able to wait […] The post Reduced Manufacturing Volumes Push Lumber Prices Up first appeared on Madison’s Lumber Reporter.

Lumber Prices and Market Update: Feb 2023

In the week ending February 10, 2023, the price of benchmark softwood lumber item Western Spruce-Pine-Fir 2×4 #2&Btr KD (RL) was US$476 mfbm, which is up by +$16 or +3%, from the previous week when it was US$360 mfbm, said weekly forest products industry price guide newsletter Madison’s Lumber Reporter. This is up by +$104, […] The post Lumber Prices and Market Update: Feb 2023 first appeared on Madison’s Lumber Reporter.

More Lumber Price Increases on Tightened Supply

The sawmill curtailments of recent months, especially those ongoing in the western part of North America, served to bring lumber prices up slightly. At this point, levels are still somewhat below cost-of-production in the important supply basket of British Columbia — which has been roughly estimated at approximately US$500 mfbm. The strategy of reducing production, […] The post More Lumber Price Increases on Tightened Supply first appeared on Madison’s Lumber Reporter.

Sawmill Curtailments Bring Increasing Lumber Prices

Since October 2022, quite a few sawmill operators have taken downtime and curtailments. This is normal for the time of year, as usually lumber demand slows in winter and regular maintenance needs to take place, as well as employee vacation time. Over the past few months there has been perhaps a bit more than the […] The post Sawmill Curtailments Bring Increasing Lumber Prices first appeared on Madison’s Lumber Reporter.

Softwood Lumber Prices Come Up Off Seasonal Lows

January 2023 is well under way, and with it the usual seasonal large-volume buying by the big US home builders has begun. Because they want the wood needed for their projects on the ground before spring building activity, customers make their orders now to accommodate possibly extended delivery times. As such, it is usual for […] The post Softwood Lumber Prices Come Up Off Seasonal Lows first appeared on Madison’s Lumber Reporter.

Midwest Business Trends

In the Midwest, Softwood lumber providers recently said that their sales are slow. But at the time of these interviews, there were also some glimmers of optimism. “Our business is improving,” commented a sawmill representative in Texas. “We are getting more interest, and more quotes are going out.”Compared to six months ago, “Sales are improving,” […]

Ontario/Quebec Business Trends

According to an Ontario-based manufacturer “Prices continue to rise in all species after last week’s curtail announcements from Canfor. The U.S. is the primary driver, as mills reported strong sales south of the border.” A Quebec producer told us the U.S. is “desperately searching for studs, which has allowed mills to build solid order files. […]

West Coast Business Trends

At the time of this writing there is little to no movement in Western Spruce-Pine-Fir with Cedar seeing moderate activity. With the recent curtailments and closures of mills in BC and U.S. South, supply in theory should tighten, stabilize prices and encourage buyers who are currently sitting on the sidelines. The following is what a […]

Southeast Business Trends

Across the Southeast region sources say that their marketplaces are doing well. Some sources have noted that their sales are doing better than they were six months ago.A lumber representative in Georgia said, at the time of this writing, that the beginning of 2023 was looking to be very similar to the end of 2022. […]

Northeast Business Trends

Across the Northeast region sources say that their markets are doing well, at the time of this writing. They all noted that their sales seem to be the same if not better than they were six months ago.In New Hampshire a lumber spokesperson said that his market is fairly strong. He also noted that his […]