The annual gain followed a 1.6% increase in June, while inflation outpaced nominal home price growth.
Marketing
The Chinese list covers hardwood and softwood lumber, logs, OSB, fiberboard, plywood and flooring, while tariff reductions still require domestic procedures.
U.S. hardwood log exports to China reached 380.6 thousand m3 worth $285 million in January-August 2026, exceeding full-year 2025 shipments.
Mill closures have reduced pulpwood outlets, while weak housing and construction activity has reduced demand for hardwood products.
Sales of new single-family homes rose to 684,000 in August from 643,000 in July but were 2% below a year earlier.
U.S. exports fall 37.5% while South Korea shipments rise 20.8%; industry expects low-single-digit sales growth in 2026.
The change will primarily affect European lumber measured after drying and planing.
Södra’s increased birch demand is driven by pulp business expansion and Baltic plywood production.
Single-family starts rose 7.6% from July.
Customers will keep their existing brand relationships while gaining access to a broader range of cutting products and expertise.
Several producers improved results, while mill closures reduced Nordic lumber capacity and production.
Inventory reaches 1.62 million units, while the median existing-home price rises 1.6% from a year earlier.
The association cites a continued weakened market situation and lower demand for the reductions.
Regional constraints, limited plantation expansion and infrastructure barriers will restrict how much additional softwood roundwood reaches markets.
The planned closure will remove about 110 thousand m3 of annual lumber production.
Prices increased for the second consecutive year after declining in 2023.
Private residential spending ran at US$859.0 billion in July, down from US$870.6 billion in June.
Domestic sales fell 4.1%, while U.S. shipments declined amid tariffs. The industry expects full-year sales to decrease approximately 3%.
The new company is planned to take over UPM’s plywood business after the October demerger and is expected to begin trading in November.
Georgia timberland owners lose buyers as mill closures cut 3% of U.S. containerboard capacity.