Lumber Rises to 8-Month High

Lumber climbed to $617 per thousand board feet, the highest level since October, as constrained supply outweighed subdued conditions in the housing market. The US lumber market remains tight, with domestic production failing to fully offset reduced imports from Canada following tariffs. Canada still supplies roughly 30% of US consumption, underscoring its continued importance despite trade barriers. The US Commerce Department has proposed lowering combined duties on Canadian lumber to 24.8% from 35.2%, but an additional 10% Section 232 tariff keeps the effective rate close to 35%. Supply pressures have been further intensified by wildfire damage and other production disruptions in Canada, prompting British Columbia to introduce emergency measures aimed at boosting timber availability after storms and fires threatened output.

Lumber increased to 598.00 USD/1000 board feet, the highest since April 2026. Over the past 4 weeks, Lumber gained 3.57%, and in the last 12 months, it increased 0.5%.

Lumber futures were near $609 per thousand board, the highest since March, as tight supply offset muted activity in the housing sector. The US lumber market remained in a tight supply backdrop as domestic production has not expanded fast enough to make up for the drop in Canadian imports following the tariffs on Canada. The latest data indicated that Canada still accounted for up to 30% of domestic supply. The US Commerce Department recently proposed reducing combined duties on Canadian lumber to 24.8% from 35.2%, but an additional 10% Section 232 tariff keeps the effective burden near 35%. On top of that, wildfires and production disruptions in Canada magnified an already tight availability of wood, as British Columbia recently introduced emergency measures to boost timber availability after wildfire and storm damage threatened output.