📉 Lumber Prices Spiked This Year — and Volatility is Back
Are You Ready for Next Year?
Softwood lumber prices surged early last year before dropping through the summer. Even with prices lower today, the market remains unstable — and developers are still dealing with unpredictable swings.
At the same time, imports from Canada fell 6.1%, tightening supply in key construction states. With the U.S. relying on Canada for more than 25% of its softwood lumber, any supply shift creates immediate pressure on framing packages.
If you’re planning a wood-framed hotel or multifamily project, your project budget is still exposed heading into 2026.
What Developers Are Seeing Right Now
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Prices spiked early last year, then declined — a clear sign of market instability.
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Canadian softwood imports dropped 6.1%, lowering supply where demand remains strong.
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Domestic production has not grown enough to offset this decline.
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Even with lower prices at the moment, rapid shifts are expected again next year.
State Imports of Softwood Lumber from Canada — Latest Data. 1
What You Can Do Now
1. Review Your Structural Material Usage
2. Consider Alternative Framing Systems
3. Lock In Pricing Earlier
4. Use Prefab & Offsite Options
5. Work With an Integrated A/E Team
Why Developers Choose BASE4
We help developers build faster, cheaper, and with more certainty — even in a volatile materials market.
Our in-house architects, engineers, and designers work as one team, producing coordinated drawings that reduce rework, speed up bidding, and give you earlier control of your material strategy.
Thank you,
Blair Hildahl
BASE4 Principal
608.304.5228
BlairH@base-4.com
Source:
1.U.S. Census Bureau; NAHB Analysis
2.Eye on Housing – State-Level Analysis of Canadian Softwood Lumber Trade
3.BLS Producer Price Index (Softwood Lumber — WPU0811)
