Comments from July 10, 2026.
Lumber prices have been mostly steady the past few weeks amid the Fourth of July slowdown and typical summer doldrums. Market participants continue to deal with high shipping costs, as the recent drawdown in fuel prices has not yet translated to much relief in freight rates. The US on-highway diesel price averaged $4.67/gal on June 29, down from $5.64/gal on May 11 but up from $3.73/gal a year ago.
Contacts report a slowdown in demand from China, though a producer said that is typical for this time of year. Ash and Oak prices could feel downward pressure amid decreased Chinese purchasing; one producer reported that Chinese buyers have been attempting to drive the price of Red Oak down through lower bids. This is more the case for Fas than the common grades.
ASH: Steady demand and tight supply are keeping Ash prices at relatively firm levels in the Northern region. Comments about demand from those still producing the species have been nearly all positive. Ash prices have risen significantly over the past two-and-a-half years as the Emerald Ash Borer has decimated supplies of the species across the US. Prices reached an initial peak in August 2025 before slumping for much of the latter part of that year. Prices then bounced back in the first quarter of 2026, partly because of strong demand from China. Listings and range numbers have largely held steady since March and are nearly all unchanged this week, outside of slight bumps to the kiln dried #1C listings.
ASPEN: Limited supply and decent demand have provided upward pressure to Aspen prices throughout this year. Listings have been stepping higher every four to six weeks, then holding firm, as purchasing activity outpaces production. Recent comments from Aspen producers indicate that this steady-to-firmer trend is still ongoing and that supplies are tight. No changes are required for the listings and ranges this week, following several gains last week.
BASSWOOD: Comments about Basswood have been mixed in the North. Some producers are struggling to move the species, while others are selling it easily and listing it among their bestsellers. Basswood listings and range numbers have risen gradually throughout this year, as limited production has provided upward pressure to prices. Newly reported prices are maintaining this steady-to-firmer stance; the kiln dried 8/4 and 9/4 #1C listings and ranges are raised this week.
BIRCH: Demand is limited for most Birch items. No single grade, thickness, or color selection is drawing a lot of attention at the present time. One major sawmill operator in the Upper Midwest told HMR/Fastmarkets that they have shied away from cutting the species over the past quarter. Both green and kiln dried Birch prices fell sharply during the spring and have since stabilized at the lowest levels in close to six years. The market for Unselected Birch is very narrow at the moment, according to market participants, as buyers are mainly interested in Sap&Btr or red color sorts.
HARD MAPLE: Hard Maple continues to move well for Northern producers, but that is not the case for many Appalachian producers. This species was a bright spot for producers in the region throughout the spring and has been the most frequently listed bestseller in recent weeks. Comments about kiln dried #1C lumber have been especially positive. One major producer in the Upper Midwest said his company is oversold on kiln dried #1C and #2A inventory, though the same producer noted a slowdown in demand for Fas lumber. Green and kiln dried prices have been mostly steady the past six to eight weeks, following gains earlier this year. The kiln dried #1&2 White 4/4 Fas range numbers are lowered this week. The green listings are unchanged following further gains for #1&2 White #1C across thicknesses last week.
SOFT MAPLE: Soft Maple prices in the Northern region have faced downward supply-side pressure over the past two months, reversing much of the gains that occurred during the first five months of this year. Contacts tell HMR that markets for the species are amply supplied. However, recently reported prices are steady, and all listings and range numbers are unchanged this week, as they were last week. Comments about demand for Soft Maple are mixed. Some producers in the Upper Midwest list Soft Maple among their bestsellers, while others report difficulty moving #1C&Btr items. Meanwhile, brown Fas continues to move at a good clip. Some sales contacts worry that the market is postured for further price decreases because of excess supply.
RED OAK: Northern green Red Oak prices have come under a bit of downward pressure in the past two weeks. The 4/4 and 5/4 Fas&Sel listings edged down last week, and the 4/4 and 5/4 #1C listings fall in this issue. While prices have softened, mills are readily moving developing production. Red Oak prices often retreat in the summertime amid increased seasonal production, and this trend seems to be emerging in recently reported prices. However, it is still too early to tell if a persistent slide is imminent or if prices are simply adjusting downward following a continual rally in the first half of this year. Kiln dried Red Oak remains a commonly listed bestseller for producers in the Northern region, and prices and range numbers are holding firm; the only changes this week lift the range numbers for 5/4 #1C.
WHITE OAK: The Northern kiln dried Fas White Oak listings and ranges registered their first gains in nearly two years last week. Buying activity has picked up for the species since the second half of March, compared with most of 2025 and the early stages of 2026. Over the past three months, certain contacts reported a rebound in kiln dried Fas prices, and more recent reports showed that this bounce became widespread enough to necessitate last week’s increases. No further adjustments are in order to the published kiln dried listings and ranges in this issue. Green prices are also unchanged, though the #1C&Btr listings fell across all thicknesses last week amid continued oversupply. The green Fas&Sel listings have not risen since October 2024, as markets for the species have faced excess supply from reduced consumption by the barrel stave sector.
PALLET LUMBER, CANTS, TIES, & BOARD ROAD: Three quarters of recently surveyed contacts described demand from the pallet sector as “good,” while the remaining quarter described it as “fair,” and none described it as “slow.” This sector has been easily the most positive for producers in recent months. Reported prices necessitate further increases to the cant listing and range; pallet lumber prices hold steady.
Railroad tie purchases by treating operations are flat to slower. Purchasing quotas remain in place, with prices largely unchanged from previous reports. The 7×9 crosstie range remains intact.
The number of Northern companies manufacturing board road is low relative to regions further southward. However, area producers report decent business at prices well represented by the listing and range.