Lumber Rebounds Above $620

2026-07-03 10:11 By Larissa Caser 1 min. read

Lumber prices rebounded to around $623 per thousand board feet, as supply tightened faster than demand.

US sawmill output declined for a second consecutive quarter, while production capacity fell 6% from a year earlier.

Although lumber prices rose 6.1% from the previous quarter as producers attempted to capitalize, they remained 3.8% below year-earlier levels amid subdued buyer activity.

At the same time, British Columbia, Canada's largest exporting province, seeks to expand shipments to China as higher US import costs for Canadian softwood lumber reshaped trade flows.

Meanwhile, the US maintained antidumping and countervailing duty orders on certain wood products and renewed trade measures on Chinese wood-related imports effective June 24, citing the need to “quarantine forest pests”.

On the demand side, Canadian lumber exports to Japan fell 27%, while elevated borrowing costs, higher labor costs, and a weaker housing market continued to curb demand for construction lumber.



News Stream
Lumber Rebounds Above $620
Lumber prices rebounded to around $623 per thousand board feet, as supply tightened faster than demand. US sawmill output declined for a second consecutive quarter, while production capacity fell 6% from a year earlier. Although lumber prices rose 6.1% from the previous quarter as producers attempted to capitalize, they remained 3.8% below year-earlier levels amid subdued buyer activity. At the same time, British Columbia, Canada's largest exporting province, seeks to expand shipments to China as higher US import costs for Canadian softwood lumber reshaped trade flows. Meanwhile, the US maintained antidumping and countervailing duty orders on certain wood products and renewed trade measures on Chinese wood-related imports effective June 24, citing the need to “quarantine forest pests”. On the demand side, Canadian lumber exports to Japan fell 27%, while elevated borrowing costs, higher labor costs, and a weaker housing market continued to curb demand for construction lumber.
2026-07-03
Lumber Eases from Recent Highs
Lumber prices eased to near $615 per thousand board feet, after reaching near an eight-month high on June 22 amid concerns over higher import costs for Canadian softwood lumber and tighter supply conditions. Although preliminary antidumping and countervailing duty rates were recently lowered, the overall tariff burden remains elevated, including the existing Section 232 tariff set to take effect in August. The prospect of higher import costs has tightened supply expectations and prompted buyers to accelerate purchases, supporting prices in recent weeks. At the same time, U.S. domestic lumber production remains constrained, while demand for wood products continues to be underpinned by residential construction. However, declining housing affordability amid higher labor costs and elevated construction loans interest rates could curb new homebuilding activity and temper lumber demand in the months ahead.
2026-06-24
Lumber Rises to 8-Month High
Lumber climbed past $630 per thousand board feet, the highest level since October, amid higher effective US import costs on Canadian softwood and tighter expected supply. Prices rose despite a small reduction in preliminary antidumping and countervailing duties, because the combined tariff burden remains high at about 35.9% including the existing Section 232 levy, set to take effect in August. The market is also being driven by uncertainty ahead of final duty decisions, prompting buyers to accelerate purchases and lift near-term demand. At the same time, US domestic production is still constrained, while housing-related consumption remains structurally large, with softwood lumber and engineered wood products heavily used in new construction. Each new home requires roughly 15,000 board feet of lumber plus extensive engineered wood products, keeping baseline consumption elevated even in a softer housing cycle.
2026-06-19