Madison's Lumber Reporter

09/03/2026

Deep dive into latest softwood lumber prices and market update for the beginning of September 2026.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4xakty0Tko

KEY TAKE-AWAYS:
• Western-SPF players in the US were more interested in taking the symbolic last weeks of summer to vacation rather than sit at a desk.
• Trading activity unsurprisingly sputtered as distractions abounded ahead of the upcoming Labour Day weekend holiday.
• Prices of Western-SPF in Canada continued its sideways-to-down drift as summer holidays again took precedence over slow business.
• Scores of Eastern-SPF buyers staying out of the fray while a smaller cohort opportunistically sniped discounted orders where they could be found.
• Higher-priced Euro wood was arriving into a much softer market, so the next 30-45 days will be interesting.
• Southern Yellow Pine sawmills did a good job over the past few weeks cleaning up accumulations of certain items.
• Alternating hot and stormy weather in the US northeast was not expected to break until around mid-September, which kept construction activity there low.

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https://youtu.be/r4xakty0TkoDeep dive into latest softwood lumber ...

09/02/2026

Inexorable Slide of Lumber Prices Continued in August

As the last of summer slow-down time for the North America construction framing softwood lumber industry passed by, many solid wood commodity prices slid down a bit further.

In the week ending August 21, 2026 the price of Western Spruce-Pine-Fir 2x4 #2&Btr KD (RL) was US$480 mfbm, which was down -$10, or -2% from the previous week when it was $490, said weekly forest products industry price guide newsletter Madison’s Lumber Reporter.
That week’s price was down -$25, or -5%, from one month ago when it was $505.

To subscribe to Madison’s Lumber Reporter, simply fill out an order form here: https://madisonsreport.com/subscribe/

KEY TAKE-AWAYS:
• Lower cash numbers on key dimension softwood lumber items confirmed negative price movement in lumber futures from previous weeks.
• It looked like the North American construction framing lumber market was building up to a riveting Autumn.
• Sellers of Western-SPF in the US continued to assert that the market had less downside left than perhaps purchasers hoped.
• Sales of Western-SPF in Canada experienced the typical late summer slowdown in the back half of August.
• Tight overall supply reduced the speed of this latest price correction downward.
• There was a surge of Eastern-SPF buying later in the week that buoyed the spirits of wary suppliers in that region.
• Producers in the Northeast extended sawmill order files by one or two weeks, carrying them through to September.
• After multiple weeks of downward sliding Southern Yellow Pine prices continued to flounder.

FULL STORY: https://madisonsreport.com/inexorable-slide-of-lumber-prices-continued-in-august/

08/28/2026

The Madison’s Lumber Prices Index for the week ending August 28, 2026 is: US$521 mfbm

This is down -2%, or -$9, from the previous week when it was US$530.
This is down -7%, or -$37, from one month ago when it was US$558.

To subscribe to Madison’s Lumber Reporter, simply fill out an order form here: https://madisonsreport.com/subscribe/

08/26/2026

Softer Lumber Prices in Mid-August Despite Tight Supply

The trend line for benchmark softwood lumber commodity item Western S-P-F 2x4 has been quite stable this year, from the lowest price of US$426 mfbm right at the beginning of 2026, to a high of $516 during July.

In the week ending August 14, 2026 the price of Western Spruce-Pine-Fir 2x4 #2&Btr KD (RL) was US$490 mfbm, which was down -$26, or -5% from the previous week when it was $516, said weekly forest products industry price guide newsletter Madison’s Lumber Reporter.
That week’s price was down -$15, or -4%, from one month ago when it was $505.

To subscribe to Madison’s Lumber Reporter, simply fill out an order form here: https://madisonsreport.com/subscribe/

KEY TAKE-AWAYS:
• Western-SPF traders in the United States watched buyers retreat to the sidelines.
• Following the typical late-summer trend, Western-SPF demand in Canada continued to wane.
• The penchant among buyers to hold perilously thin inventories while surviving on hand-to-mouth orders continued.
• Retail customers and other buyers of Eastern-SPF disappeared in the usual late-summer slumber.
• The lack of Euro wood in Eastern US ports through June and July was pronounced.
• The Eastern zone of Southern Yellow Pine was in price discovery mode as mills scrambled to find tradable numbers.
• Eastern Stocking Wholesalers at the ports in New Jersey had a breather as demand took a nap.
• All players were extremely interested to see where the market lands after Labour Day.

FULL STORY: https://madisonsreport.com/softer-lumber-prices-in-mid-august-despite-tight-supply/

08/21/2026

The Madison’s Lumber Prices Index for the week ending August 21, 2026 is: US$530 mfbm

This is down -1%, or -$6, from the previous week when it was US$536.
This is down -4%, or -$24, from one month ago when it was US$554.

Compared to the same week last year this is almost flat.
Compared to the same week in 2024, this is up +23%, or +$100.

To subscribe to Madison’s Lumber Reporter, simply fill out an order form here: https://madisonsreport.com/subscribe/

08/20/2026

Madison’s Sawmill Curtailment Lookout: July 2026

The latest update and info of changes to North America lumber facility operations:

To subscribe to Madison’s Lumber Reporter, simply fill out an order form here: https://madisonsreport.com/subscribe/

Madison’s Sawmill Lookout is our newest monthly publication, tracking sawmill curtailment news for you!
With Madison’s Sawmill Curtailment Lookout , you will save time and money by getting the latest information on production volume changes at US and Canadian sawmills straight into your inbox.

Each month, be the first to find out about curtailments, downtime, restarts, sawmill closures, and re-openings. Sawmill Lookout is THE sawmill curtailment and company news digest you need to say goodbye to missed opportunities!

Sample:https://madisonsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/MadisonsSawmillLookout_2025-october.pdf

Madison’s Sawmill Curtailment Lookout Each month, be the first to find out about curtailments, downtime, restarts, sawmill closures, and re-openings. Sawmill Lookout is THE sawmill curtailment and company news digest you need.

08/19/2026

Usual Late Summer Slow-Down Keeps Lumber Prices Flat

It is normal in later summer for lumber sales to be quite soft, as end-users have usually ordered the wood they need for their construction projects.

In the week ending August 07, 2026, the price of benchmark softwood lumber item Western Spruce-Pine-Fir 2x4 #2&Btr KD (RL) was US$516 mfbm. This was flat from the previous week, said weekly forest products industry price guide newsletter Madison’s Lumber Reporter.
That week’s price was up +$11, or +2%, from one month ago when it was $505.

To subscribe to Madison’s Lumber Reporter, simply fill out an order form here: https://madisonsreport.com/subscribe/

KEY TAKE-AWAYS:
• Despite tight supply demand trailed off in a seasonally typical fashion for Western-SPF sellers in the US.
• In Canada the sales lull for Western-SPF suppliers deepened as late-summer vacations took precedence over work.
• Buyers were noticeably less active than in July, and those who were engaged felt they had enough latitude to push counteroffers.
• Eastern-SPF sawmill sales lists remained thin.
• Players noted conspicuously light field inventories, thus were expecting an interesting • September from the perspective of overall availability.
• The latest slide of Southern Yellow Pine prices started in the East and steadily spread to the Central and Western zones.
• Business in the US Northeast took a step back as extreme heat descended on the region and jobsite activity slowed to a crawl.

FULL STORY: https://madisonsreport.com/usual-late-summer-slow-down-keeps-lumber-prices-flat/

08/18/2026

Madison’s BC Coast Log prices report: July 2026

The latest prices for British Columbia coast log sales:

Madison’s BC Coast Logs is a monthly digital publication featuring our tailored data set of British Columbia coastal logs prices. Every month, Madison’s BC Coast Logs provides valuable insight combined with the latest prices of West Coast Canadian log sales.

Get it all in one easy picture:
SPECIES: Western Red Cedar, Douglas Fir, Hemlock/Balsam
GRADES: Standard, Chip&Saw, Gang, and Pulp
SALES: Canadian and international markets

Cut through the noise and get Madison’s expertly selected data straight to your inbox every month:

To subscribe to Madison’s Lumber Reporter, simply fill out an order form here: https://madisonsreport.com/subscribe/

Madison’s BC Coast Log prices report is a monthly publication featuring our tailored data set of British Columbia coastal logs prices. Every month, Madison’s BC Coast Logs provides valuable insight combined with the latest prices of West Coast Canadian log sales.

08/14/2026

The Madison’s Lumber Prices Index for the week ending August 14, 2026 is: US$536 mfbm

This is down -4%, or -$22, from the previous week when it was US$558.
This is down -2%, or -$12, from one month ago when it was US$548.

To subscribe to Madison’s Lumber Reporter, simply fill out an order form here: https://madisonsreport.com/subscribe/

08/13/2026

Madison’s North America Heating Wood Pellet Market Update: July 2026
By Earl Heath, Madison’s Pellet Report Editor

Québec Government and Indigenous Community to Build Pellet Plant:
Provincial energy utility Hydro-Québec recently reached an agreement with the Atikamekw community of Opitciwan and Société en commandite Onimiskiw Opitciwan (SCOO) to finalize a 4.8 MW biomass cogeneration plant that will replace the community’s existing diesel-fired power unit.

To subscribe to Madison’s Lumber Reporter, simply fill out an order form here: https://madisonsreport.com/subscribe/

New Patent Granted for High-Pressure Reactor Feed System:
Powder and bulk solids storage, handling, conveying, and processing company Jenike & Johanson has been awarded a patent for a novel feeding technology for high pressure biomass reactors.

Global Wood Pellet Production Hits Record High:
According to Bioenergy Europe’s latest Pellet Statistical Report, global production of wood pellets reached a record 53.5 million tonnes in 2025.

Investigation into Drax’s Canadian Biomass Disclosures Terminated:
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), a UK financial services regulator, recently closed its investigation into Drax Group’s Canadian biomass operations, finding no evidence to justify further action.

FULL STORY: https://madisonsreport.com/madisons-north-america-heating-wood-pellet-market-update-june-2026-2/