As January came to a close the impediment of very harsh winter weather kept sales of construction framing dimension softwood lumber items slow.
It was more a matter of transportation issues than a drop in demand. Some orders were booked at prices similar to the previous week, but most communication was about organizing deliveries on icy and frozen highways. As well, several regions of the US south and east experienced power failures, which of course impeded sawmill operations.
Most industry players, whether buyers or sellers, agreed that 2026 started off on good footing, with prices quite stable compared to the same time last year and in 2024. All eyes were on the usual uptick in sales during February,
when the largest US home building companies book their wood needed for projects that will break ground in spring.
In the week ending January 30, 2026, the price of benchmark softwood lumber item Western Spruce-Pine-Fir 2×4 #2&Btr KD (RL) was US$460 mfbm. This was flat from the previous week when it was $460, said weekly forest products industry price guide newsletter Madison’s Lumber Reporter.
That week’s price was up +$68, or +17%, from one month ago when it was $392.
Early-year lumber demand increased even as winter storms descended across the Eastern reaches of both Canada and the US.
To subscribe to Madison’s Lumber Reporter, simply fill out an order form here: https://madisonsreport.com/subscribe/
KEY TAKE-AWAYS:
- Even while overall availability was limited, customers of Western-SPF lumber and studs in the US remained quiet due to seasonal effects.
- Commodity prices showed consistent but not outlandish strengthening trends.
- Buyers of Western-SPF lumber in Canada retreated to the sidelines after covering the bulk of their short-term needs.
- Sawmills maintained order files into mid-February.
- Purchasers were unwilling to extend coverage beyond that timeline.
- Secondary suppliers of Eastern-SPF commodities reported sales plodded along at a relatively good pace.
- Logistical issues cropped up frequently as winter weather affected huge swathes of both Canada and the US.
- Widespread power outages over much of the Eastern portion of the continent affected Southern Yellow Pine sawmill operations.
- Eastern stocking wholesalers were content to see their prices head into February flat.
Madison’s Benchmark Top-Six Softwood Lumber and Panel Prices: Monthly Averages
Compared to the same week last year, when it was US$445 mfbm, the price of Western Spruce-Pine-Fir 2×4 #2&Btr KD (RL) for the week ending January 30, 2026 was up +$16, or +3%.
Compared to two years ago when it was $442, that week’s price was up +$18, or +4%.
Source: https://madisonsreport.com/major-storms-across-the-continent-keep-lumber-sales-slow/
