FX.co ★ Lumber Holds Strong on Demand Expectations

Lumber futures exceeded $580 per thousand board feet in September, remaining above the lows from earlier in the month as supply constraints and a resurgence in housing demand became evident. Key players within the industry, like Interfor, have curbed production through maintenance schedules, shift reductions, and temporary mill closures. Concurrently, Canadian softwood lumber shipments faced limitations due to tariff uncertainties, resulting in reduced immediate availability. Market speculation anticipates further interest rate reductions by the Federal Reserve in late 2025, spurring proactive builders to replenish their inventories in preparation. Notably, new single-family home sales surged by 20.5% to reach an annualized rate of 800,000 in August, marking the most significant monthly increase since August 2022. Meanwhile, existing home sales maintained a steady pace at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.00 million in August, with housing inventory reported at 1.53 million units, equivalent to a supply of 4.6 months.