May 29, 2026
Market Overview:
The lumber and panel markets remain mixed as we moved through late May. Framing lumber has moderated from recent highs, with much of the weakness tied to Southern Pine. Several products more relevant to the Northeast remain steadier due to tighter supply, reduced imports, and ongoing transportation challenges. Eastern SPF remains relatively balanced, but availability and replacement costs are still being influenced by fewer Canadian shipments into the U.S. market, continued trade uncertainty, and the overall reduction in imported lumber supply. While some lumber categories have softened, the market is not moving uniformly, and pricing continues to vary by species, region, and product mix.
Plywood continues to see upward pressure. U.S. softwood plywood imports fell sharply in the first quarter, with total imports down 42% from the same period last year, and that reduction has helped support continued strength in domestic plywood pricing. Southern Pine plywood has been on a steady climb since late 2025, and some sheathing items are now near levels last seen in 2022. For customers, this means the market may feel calmer than it did earlier this spring, but supply-side pressures remain very real, particularly in plywood, CDX, and certain Northeast-relevant framing items.
From a demand standpoint, the housing market continues to show a mixed but active picture. National housing starts pulled back slightly in April after a strong March, but they remained above last year’s level. The Northeast was one of the stronger regions month over month, with April starts up 16.1% from March, although still slightly below last year. Building permits also improved nationally from March, which is important because permits can point toward future construction activity. For our customers in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and the broader Northeast, this suggests that activity remains uneven but resilient. Builders are still navigating affordability concerns, higher financing costs, and cautious buyer demand, but the spring construction season is underway, and tight supply in key lumber and plywood categories may continue to create pricing pressure even where overall demand is not accelerating sharply.
A quick update on current supply chain conditions impacting the building materials industry: Rising fuel and freight costs tied to ongoing instability in the Middle East are creating significant disruption across transportation networks, particularly among independent truckers. We are seeing an increasing number of delayed and rescheduled shipments as drivers shift to higher-paying loads. This is affecting multiple product categories across many of our vendor partners. While our team is working aggressively to keep material moving and minimize disruption, lead times and delivery schedules may remain more volatile than normal in the near term. We appreciate your patience and partnership as we work through these industry-wide challenges together.
Vendor Spotlight: Trex Refuge PVC Decking
We are excited to highlight Trex Refuge, a new PVC decking option designed to bring together the low-maintenance performance customers expect from Trex with added fire-resistant benefits.
Refuge is engineered with a Class A Flame Spread Rating and is IWUIC ignition-resistant, making it a strong option for customers who are looking for added confidence in areas where fire performance is an important consideration. It also offers a refined, wire-brushed grain pattern for a natural wood look and is available in two West Coast-inspired colors: Martis Valley, a warm sunlit beige, and Point Reyes, a misty coastal gray. We have availability in multiple locations, please connect with your Hancock Lumber sales representative to review options, availability, and whether Trex Refuge is the right fit for your project.
As always, please reach out to me directly or to the entire team at [email protected] with any procurement questions, comments, or concerns.
James Gigliotti | Commodities Purchasing Manager | 207-713-0237 or [email protected]