North American Wholesale Lumber Association -NAWLA Traders Market

North American Lumber Markets Are Rebalancing

Fastmarkets reports that the North American softwood lumber market has been moving toward a healthier balance in 2026, with supply tightening following sawmill curtailments and lower imports. However, stronger prices do not automatically mean stronger demand — much of the recent price support has come from reduced supply rather than accelerating consumption. Housing remains the market's most important variable, with approximately 70-80% of wood products demand linked to residential construction activity

U.S. Reduces Duty Rates on Canadian Softwood but Levies Still Hefty

The U.S. Commerce Department has moved to cut Canadian lumber duties by 10 percentage points, but a separate Section 232 tariff means most producers still face a 34.83 per cent burden until August 2026. The revised anti-dumping and countervailing duties equal 24.83 per cent, and when combined with the tariffs, the levies total 34.83 per cent. New duty rates are intended to take effect by late summer of 2026

Trump Tariffs Hammer Canadian Lumber — US Builders Face 30% Price Surge

US framing lumber has climbed 30 per cent off December lows as stacked duties and Trump tariffs total about 45 per cent on many Canadian mills. Canadian softwood imports crashed 24 per cent in the first quarter as the effective 45 per cent rate hit cross-border producers. A recent U.S. Department of Commerce preliminary determination signalled that combined duties will fall to about 25 per cent from about 35 per cent later in the year

Forest Products Industry Outlook: Softwood Markets Set to Stabilize in 2026

Forest Economic Advisors projects a mere 0.4% increase in North American lumber consumption in 2026, with growth in housing starts offset by declines in residential-improvement expenditures. By 2027, a recovering U.S. economy and strengthening end-use markets are forecast to drive a more robust 2.8% increase in consumption. Lumber capacity is expected to decline further in 2026 despite forecasted improvement in consumption, with closures in the second half of the year

Mass Timber Takes Center Stage at IWF 2026

At IWF 2026, mass timber takes center stage with the debut of the Mass Timber & Prefab Showcase at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. According to WoodWorks, there are currently 2,746 mass timber projects built, under construction, or in the design phase across the United States in 2026. The adoption of engineered timber is expanding rapidly, with the total number of projects growing by roughly 20 percent year over year

U.S. Reduces Duty Rates on Canadian Softwood but Levies Still Hefty

The U.S. Commerce Department has moved to cut Canadian lumber duties by 10 percentage points, but a separate Section 232 tariff means most producers still face a 34.83 per cent burden until August 2026. The revised anti-dumping and countervailing duties equal 24.83 per cent, and when combined with the tariffs, the levies total 34.83 per cent. New duty rates are intended to take effect by late summer of 2026

The Energy Shock Is Reshaping Wood Product Costs

Higher diesel prices are increasing costs for logging operations and transportation providers. Freight surcharges have increased delivered costs across many product categories, while disruptions in petrochemical supply chains have pushed up resin and wax costs used in panel production. These pressures affect different parts of the value chain in different ways, with loggers facing higher fuel costs and manufacturers facing rising production and transportation expenses

Labor and Workforce Challenges Continue Across the Lumber Industry

The construction workforce continues to diversify, and labor availability remains a struggle for many industry participants. Sawmill and wood preservation industry employment has declined for 12 consecutive quarters, falling to its lowest level since 2010. The industry is responding with increased automation, training programs, and recruitment efforts targeting new talent pools