Yet More Harsh Winter Storms Raged Across North America In Mid-February,
Keeping Demand For Construction Framing Dimension Lumber Soft.
Most operators were focussed on deliveries; as railways and trucking
companies had great difficulty moving solid wood products. Customers eyed
their dwindling inventories with patience as home building activity was
almost non-existent due to below-freezing temperatures and significant
snowfall.
For their part, producers were able to maintain their sawmill order files
out to approximately two weeks, however this in an environment of quite low
demand. Regardless, log yards at mills are stuffed with fibre for whenever
spring does arrive and demand picks up.
Sawmills will be able to ramp up production quite quickly since there is
plenty of feedstock on hand for them.
In the week ending February 13, 2026, the price of benchmark softwood lumber
item Western Spruce-Pine-Fir 2? #2&Btr KD (RL) was US$466 mfbm.
This was up +$6, or +1%, 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 +$17, or +4%, from one month ago when it was $449.
Compared To The Same Week Last Year, When It Was Us$475 Mfbm, The Price Of
Western Spruce-Pine-Fir 2? #2&Btr Kd (Rl) For The Week Ending February 13,
2026 Was Down -$9, Or -2%.
Compared To Two Years Ago When It Was $442, That Week’S Price Was Up +$24,
Or +5%.
It was a tale of two markets; as tight truck business was reported in
the West, while activity remained frozen solid in the East.
KEY TAKE-AWAYS:
Due to the disjointed nature of this trading landscape, sellers of
Western-SPF in the US had vastly different appraisals.
Purchasers kept their inventories lean as they continued to feel uncertain
about the direction of the market heading into spring.
Experienced players kept their sights on ground-level factors like lumber
inventory buildups, weather patterns, and major transportation corridors.
After a strong January, buyers of Western-SPF in Canada remained on the
sidelines for an extended period.
There was limited prompt availability, as sawmill order files were largely
into late-February or early-March.
Ongoing severe winter weather in most regions of Eastern-SPF affected
business at all levels.
Retailers hesitated to put more stock on the ground while their yards
remained filled with snow piles, and downstream demand was in hibernation.
Some secondary suppliers sold at below-replacement costs to keep product
flowing.
In Southern Yellow Pine there was demonstrable downside pressure on key
dimension items.
MADISON’S BENCHMARK TOP-SIX SOFTWOOD LUMBER AND PANEL PRICES: MONTHLY
AVERAGES
Source: madisonsreport.com
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