Madison’s Lumber Reporter — Improved demand and continued restricted supply last week brought some North American construction framing dimension softwood lumber prices back up to levels of one-month-ago, and indeed to match exactly what prices were at this time last year, as Madison’s Lumber Reporter said.
The wholesaler price of benchmark softwood lumber commodity item Western Spruce-Pine-Fir KD 2×4 #2 & Btr (RL) last week gained +$4, or +1%, compared to the same week in 2019, at US$336 mfbm (FOB sawmill).
Suppliers of Western SPF commodities in the United States reported improving sales activity and inquiry last week, as limited supply and scant field inventories created consistent demand. Sawmill order files were well into May and customers in many active construction markets found they had to scramble to short-cover some items for immediate needs. For their part, WSPF producers in Canada were apparently a week ahead on their price lists, and were sold out on most bread and butter items last week.Staying flat over the previous week but gaining over the same week in April, for the week ending May 1, 2020, Western SPF 2×4 prices were again US$336 mfbm. Last week’s price was up +$26, or +8.4%, from one month ago. Compared to one year ago, this price is up +$4, or +1%.