Lumber traded flat at 596 USD/1000 board feet on March 27, 2026. Over the past month, Lumber's price has risen 7.39%, but it is still 12.12% lower than a year ago, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. Lumber - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on March of 2026.

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 December 2024, the price of lumber stood at 550.5 U.S. dollars per thousand board feet. 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.

The price of lumber has seen both an overall increase, and large amounts of volatility since 2019. From its low in early April 2020 to its peak in May 2021, the price per 1,000 board feet of lumber increased almost sevenfold, reaching ***** U.S. dollars. Yet, after reaching this peak the price then fell to below *** U.S. dollars per 1,000 board feet in August 2021 before rising again to reach over 1,000 U.S. dollars in the beginning of 2022. Since then, the price per 1,000 board feet of lumber decreased overall, reaching *** U.S. dollars as of January 29, 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Producer Price Index by Commodity: Lumber and Wood Products: Lumber (WPU081) from Jan 1926 to Feb 2026 about wood, commodities, PPI, inflation, price index, indexes, price, and USA.

According to Cognitive Market Research, the global Lumber market size was USD XX million in 2024. It will expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.00% from 2024 to 2031.

North America held the major market share for more than 40% of the global revenue with a market size of USD XX million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.2% from 2024 to 2031.
Europe accounted for a market share of over 30% of the global revenue with a market size of USD XX million.
Asia Pacific held a market share of around 23% of the global revenue with a market size of USD XX million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.0% from 2024 to 2031.
Latin America had a market share of more than 5% of the global revenue with a market size of USD XX million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.4% from 2024 to 2031.
Middle East and Africa had a market share of around 2% of the global revenue and was estimated at a market size of USD XX million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.7% from 2024 to 2031.
The sustainable products category is the fastest growing segment of the Lumber industry

Market Dynamics of Lumber Market

Key Drivers for Lumber Market

Increased infrastructure development fuels lumber consumption and market growth to Boost Market Growth

The key drivers that dominate the growth of the lumber market due to increased infrastructure development include rising urbanization, population growth, and an expanding construction sector. As countries invest heavily in infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, and residential and commercial buildings, there is a growing demand for Lumber as a primary building material. Additionally, the increasing focus on sustainable and eco-friendly construction practices has led to a preference for wood-based products, driving up lumber consumption. Government initiatives and policies aimed at enhancing urban development and improving infrastructure further stimulate the demand for Lumber. Moreover, the growing trend of wood's aesthetic and environmental benefits in interior design and construction projects contributes to market growth. The continuous development of new technologies in lumber processing and efficient supply chain management also boosts the availability of quality lumber, enhancing its consumption in the market. These factors collectively fuel the global lumber market growth.

Rising home construction projects drive lumber demand and prices

Rising home construction projects are a key driver of increased lumber demand and prices. The expansion of residential construction, fueled by population growth, urbanization, and low interest rates, boosts the need for Lumber. As more people seek homeownership and housing inventory remains limited, the demand for building materials, particularly Lumber, intensifies. Supply chain disruptions, limited mill capacity, and labor shortages further exacerbate the supply-demand imbalance, contributing to price hikes. Additionally, increasing government investment in infrastructure and housing projects, along with the shift toward sustainable building practices, is expected to continue driving demand for Lumber in the coming years.

Restraint Factor for the Lumber Market

Unpredictable timber costs affect pricing and profitability

Unpredictable timber costs pose significant restraints in the timber industry, directly influencing pricing and profitability. Fluctuations in raw material costs, driven by factors like supply chain disruptions, environmental regulations, and demand shifts, make it difficult for businesses to forecast expenses. This uncertainty can lead to pricing instability, forcing companies to either absorb higher costs or pass them onto consumers, which impacts competitiveness. Additionally, profitability is threatened as businesses struggle to maintain margins amidst rising or volatile timber prices. Long-term planning and financial stability are hindered, limiting growth opportunities and operational efficiency.

Trend Factor for the Lumber Market

Sustainable forestry and eco-certified lumber are gaining momentum

The lumber market is undergoing a significant transformation towards sustainability, characterized by an increasing demand for eco-certified and responsibly sourced wood products. Stakeholders including consumers, builders, and governments are emphasizin...

Non-seasonal prices paid for softwood lumber in the United States have remained relatively stable since 2023, after reaching a peak in March 2022. While the price of softwood lumber in May 2021 was valued at over 581.5 index points, that figure dropped to 250.17 in December 2025. The price of softwood veneer and plywood in the United States has also followed a similar trend.

View monthly updates and historical trends for US Producer Price Index: Lumber and Wood Products. from United States. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics. …

Graph and download economic data for Producer Price Index by Commodity: Lumber and Wood Products: Plywood (WPU083) from Jan 1947 to Jan 2026 about wood, commodities, PPI, inflation, price index, indexes, price, and USA.

Lumber wholesalers distribute a wide range of lumber, plywood, millwork and wood panel products to contractors, home improvement stores, hardware stores and other miscellaneous buyers, like government agencies, businesses for end use, consumers and farms. The industry has faced severe volatility through most of the current period as a result of the pandemic, massive supply chain disruptions and surging interest rates. In particular, higher rates offset growth realized at the start of the pandemic from torrid housing starts and home improvement markets, leading to five-year declines in the industry. Overall, revenue has been sinking at a CAGR of 1.4% over the past five years and is expected to reach $146.3 billion in 2025, when revenue will fall by an estimated 1.7%. Supply chain disruptions have also had an outsized impact on the industry's performance. In particular, major lumber shortages caused prices to skyrocket more than 36.0% in 2021. Wholesalers faced shrinking inventories and heightened demand from housing markets, with need overwhelming availability. Companies were able to heavily raise prices, reaping 14.0% growth in the year. As prices ebbed and construction markets cooled, revenue dropped significantly, erasing the gains made at the start of the current period. This shift has constrained volume growth for wholesalers, contributing to falling profit as companies discount or add services to remain competitive. In general, the cyclical nature of construction markets contributes to major boom-or-bust cycles. Looking ahead, moderating inflation and expected interest-rate cuts are projected to support a gradual rebound in construction, particularly single-family housing, from the current contraction. A persistent national housing shortage, pent-up household formation and renewed business investment in commercial and industrial facilities are expected to lift demand for lumber and boards, millwork and plywood. At the same time, wholesalers are investing in technology, expanding their product lines and strengthening their supply chains to capitalize on this upswing and mitigate future shocks. However, ongoing competition from steel, plastics and other materials, along with tariff-driven cost uncertainty, will limit upside and keep pricing power in check. Over the next five years, revenue is forecast to rise at a CAGR of 1.7%, reaching $159.5 billion in 2030.

Graph and download economic data for Producer Price Index by Commodity: Lumber and Wood Products: Softwood Lumber (WPU0811) from Jan 1947 to Jan 2026 about wood, commodities, PPI, inflation, price index, indexes, price, and USA.

Sustainable sourcing and reclamation initiatives are redefining timber supply chains in North America. In 2025, the North America Reclaimed Lumber market was recorded at 1,707.90 metric tons, with a year-on-year growth of 1.33%, reflecting steady adoption across residential and commercial refurbishment projects. The Market is estimated to reach 1,732.38 metric tons in 2026, supported by regulatory incentives and improved collection infrastructure. During the forecast period, the volume of the North America Reclaimed Lumber Market is projected to reach 1,932.19 metric tons by 2032, with year-on-year growth increasing to 2.11%, indicating a gradual scale-up in processing and redistribution efficiency. Strategic investment in traceability, certification compliance, and operational integration continues to influence competitive positioning and long-term market planning across the region.

Material recovery efficiency is becoming a defining metric for sustainable construction supply chains worldwide. In 2025, the Global Reclaimed Lumber market was valued at 7,573.79 metric tons, reflecting structured reuse across demolition and refurbishment activities. The market is estimated to reach at 7,731.15 metric tons in 2026, supported by standardised grading practices and improved collection networks. Over the forecast period, the Global Reclaimed Lumber Market's total volume is projected to reach 8,961.27 metric tons by 2032, indicating consistent scale-up aligned with circular economy targets. Year-on-year growth increased from 1.97% in 2025 to 2.77% in 2032, highlighting gradual efficiency gains rather than demand surges. Supply chain integration, traceability requirements, and cost control across processing stages continue to shape long-term global deployment patterns.

Building materials made of steel, copper and other metals had some of the highest price growth rates in the U.S. in the first half of 2025 in comparison to the previous year. The growth rate of the cost of several construction materials was slightly lower than in late 2024. It is important to note, though, that the figures provided are Producer Price Indices, which cover production within the United States, but do not include imports or tariffs. This might matter for lumber, as Canada's wood production is normally large enough that the U.S. can import it from its neighboring country. Construction material prices in the United Kingdom Similarly to these trends in the U.S., at that time the price growth rate of construction materials in the UK were generally lower 2024 than in 2023. Nevertheless, the cost of some construction materials in the UK still rose that year, with several of those items reaching price growth rates of over **** percent. Considering that those materials make up a very big share of the costs incurred for a construction project, those developments may also have affected the average construction output price in the UK. Construction material shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic During the first years of the COVID-19 pandemic, there often were supply problems and material shortages, which created instability in the construction market. According to a survey among construction contractors, the construction materials most affected by shortages in the U.S. during most of 2021 were steel and lumber. This was also a problem on the other side of the Atlantic: The share of building construction companies experiencing shortages in Germany soared between March and June 2021, staying at high levels for over a year. Meanwhile, the shortage of material or equipment was one of the main factors limiting the building activity in France in June 2022.

Rapid urbanisation and growing construction demand are driving reclaimed timber adoption across Asia Pacific. In 2025, the APAC Reclaimed Lumber market was recorded at 1,892.31 metric tons, with a year-on-year growth of 3.66%, reflecting strong utilisation in residential renovation and infrastructure projects. The market is estimated to reach 1,963.42 metric tons in 2026, supported by government sustainability initiatives and enhanced collection networks. During the forecast period, APAC Reclaimed Lumber market volume is projected to reach 2,508.82 metric tons by 2032, with year-on-year growth rising to 4.45%, indicating accelerated scale-up in processing and redistribution capabilities. Operational efficiency, traceability standards, and regional policy alignment continue to influence competitive positioning and long-term investment strategy across the Asia Pacific reclaimed lumber sector.

Graph and download economic data for Producer Price Index by Commodity: Lumber and Wood Products: Wood Pallets and Pallet Containers, Wood and Metal Combination (WPU08410101) from Dec 2009 to Jan 2026 about wood, metals, commodities, PPI, inflation, price index, indexes, price, and USA.

Throughout the timeline, hard sawn wood has had higher prices than any other type of timber. In 2024, its price amounted to ****** U.S. dollars per cubic meter, which is twice higher than that of hard timber logs. During that period, soft logs were the cheapest type of timber at approximately ****** U.S. dollars per cubic meter. Meanwhile, lumber prices in the U.S. fluctuated a lot between 2020 and 2022.

These polygon boundaries, inundation extents, and depth rasters were created to provide an extent of flood inundation along the Lumber River within the community of Lumberton, North Carolina. The upstream and downstream reach extent is determined by the location of high-water marks, not extending the boundary far past the outermost high-water marks. In areas of uncertainty of flood extent, the model boundary is lined up with the flood inundation polygon extent. This boundary polygon was used to extract the final flood inundation polygon and depth layer from the flood water surface raster file.
The passage of Hurricane Matthew through central and eastern North Carolina during October 7-9, 2016, brought heavy rainfall which resulted in major flooding. More than 15 inches of rain were recorded in some areas. Over 600 roads were closed including Interstates 95 and 40, and nearly 99,000 structures were impacted by floodwaters. Immediately after the flooding, the U.S. Geological Surve ...

These polygon boundaries, inundation extents, and depth rasters were created to provide an extent of flood inundation along the Lumber River within the community of Fair Bluff, North Carolina. The upstream and downstream reach extent is determined by the location of high-water marks, not extending the boundary far past the outermost high-water marks. In areas of uncertainty of flood extent, the model boundary is lined up with the flood inundation polygon extent. This boundary polygon was used to extract the final flood inundation polygon and depth layer from the flood water surface raster file. The passage of Hurricane Matthew through central and eastern North Carolina during October 7-9, 2016, brought heavy rainfall which resulted in major flooding. More than 15 inches of rain were recorded in some areas. Over 600 roads were closed including Interstates 95 and 40, and nearly 99,000 structures were impacted by floodwaters. Immediately after the flooding, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) documented 267 high-water marks (HWM), of which 254 were surveyed. The North Carolina Emergency Management documented and surveyed 353 HWMs. Six communities were mapped using Geographic Information Systems.

Abstract Hybrid multistory buildings are every day more common in the construction industry. However, there is little understanding of the performance of the hybrid connections. In this research, the static and dynamic response of cross-laminated timber (CLT) composites combined with reinforced concrete (RC), hollow steel profiles and laminated strand lumber (LSL) has been investigated. In addition, the effects of posttensioning stresses as well as distinct types of connectors such as nails, self-tapping screws and self-tapping dowels has been accounted for. After experimental work, numerical modelling for simulating the static and dynamic behavior for these hybrid connections was also investigated. Results indicate that such massive timber composite connections behave reasonably similar to conventional timber connections, except in that inelastic deformations may increase up to 200%. In addition, it has been found that existing hysteretic models like the modified Stewart hysteretic model (MSTEW) fit for modelling purposes except that very asymmetric hysteretic behavior can be found for timber-concrete hybrid connections.

Carpenters have spent the past few years navigating a paradoxical market: demand that’s solid but uneven and a workforce that’s steadily thinning. The Home Builders Institute’s Spring 2023 report found 90.0% of single‑family builders reporting carpenter shortages, even as new housing construction stayed subdued, highlighting a chronic skills gap rather than a cyclical blip. At the same time, falling lumber and wood product costs since their 2021 and 2022 peaks have quietly aided profitability, offsetting some of the inflationary pressure from rising wages and other inputs. Commercial and institutional work, particularly in food service, retail, education and healthcare, has also helped fill gaps left by weaker office and ground‑up residential building, keeping many carpenters busy across a diversified project mix. Industry revenue has been increasing at a CAGR of 2.5% over the past five years to total an estimated $63.5 billion in 2026, including an estimated decrease of 0.3% in 2026. Over the past five years, this combination of tight labor and shifting demand has reshaped how carpenters earn. Limited availability has pushed up bid prices and wage rates, lifting revenue per carpenter even as the total number of workers is forecast to shrink at a 0.9% CAGR from 2021 to 2026. Finish carpentry has been both a bright spot and a pressure point: homeowners and businesses have continued to invest in interior upgrades, windows and retrofits, but DIY activity and substitutes such as vinyl flooring and stone countertops have eroded some traditional wood‑based work. Persistent labor shortages, ABC estimates construction will need 349,000 extra workers in 2026 and 456,000 in 2027, suggesting wages and billable rates for carpenters will remain under upward pressure, supporting revenue per worker but challenging contractors’ pricing power. On the demand side, new single‑family construction is expected to remain soft in the near term, but the sizable national housing deficit, continued growth in home improvement spending and record levels of office and hotel conversions point to a robust pipeline for both rough and finish carpentry as the decade progresses. Policy uncertainty regarding tariffs and a proposed 25.0% increase in timber output from federal lands adds a layer of ambiguity to future lumber prices, but after 2025’s relatively flat lumber costs, most signs point to manageable, rather than destabilizing, material‑cost pressure. Industry revenue is forecast to increase at a CAGR of 2.4% to total an estimated $71.5 billion through the end of 2031.