Monthly U.S. price of timber 2016-2024
The price of lumber in the United States fluctuated widely over the last five years, from a low of 240 dollars per 1,000 board feet in January 2016 to a peak of over 1,500 dollars in April 2021. This overall increase has not been linear though, with, for example, lumber prices falling by around 50 percent between June and September 2018, and again between August and October 2020. The value fell again by around 75 percent between May and August 2021. As of the end of February 2024, lumber price stood at 565.5 U.S. dollars per thousand board feet. Moreover, the prices of other timber products also underwent fluctuations over the years, with paperboard exhibiting the highest increment between 2006 and 2019.
Which nations are at the forefront of lumber production?
The production of lumber is dependent on the availability of forest resources, market demand, and technological advances. Sustainable forest management practices a continuous supply of timber, while economic factors and construction activity drive demand. Among the countries countries with the largest production of lumber were China and the United States. Other countries with a relatively high lumber production rate were Russia, China, and Brazil.
Which American firms lead in the production of softwood lumber?
The leading American firms based on production of softwood lumber were Weyerhaeuser, Georgia-Pacific LLC, and West Fraser. Weyerhaeuser was the largest lumber producer in 2017, with nearly 3.7 million board feet of lumber produced. These industry titans, along with others such as Sierra Pacific, Interfor, Canfor, etc., collectively shape the American lumber industry narrative through their extensive timberland holdings.
