Softwood Plywood Import Prices Fall to 12-Month Low
North America's softwood plywood import benchmark dropped to $380.5 per cubic meter in September 2026 as shipment patterns shifted.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Inflation
The North America Softwood Plywood Import Price fell to $380.5 per m3 in September 2026, down 7.4% month on month and 4.2% year on year. Hardwood plywood import prices rose 10.6% over the same month to $785.6 per m3.
Why it matters
The divergence between softwood and hardwood plywood prices reflects shifting supply sources and import volumes across the region. Buyers and producers tracking building materials costs are seeing a sharp contrast between the two product categories.
The softwood plywood import benchmark fell 7.4% month on month to $380.5 per m3, while U.S. import volume dropped 28.3% in the same period. Shipments from Canada fell 95.6% and from Brazil 39.5%, while shipments from Chile rose 41.7%; the reasons for these supplier shifts are not stated in the source data.
The details
Shipments from Indonesia, one of the lowest-priced suppliers, dropped 82%, leaving a larger share to higher-priced plywood from Cambodia and Vietnam. Shipments from Indonesia fell 62% while shipments from Gabon rose 41% over the period.
Timeline
September 2026: Softwood benchmark fell to $380.5 per m3, a 12-month low.
August to September 2026: Total plywood imports fell 26%.
Year to date 2026: Softwood benchmark fell 8.2% while hardwood gained 18.1%.
Economic Context
Softwood prices are down 8.2% year to date while hardwood gained 18.1%, a divergence that continues the 2026 trend in regional plywood import benchmarks. U.S. prices have fallen 14.9% year to date even as U.S. import volume rose 15.9%.
Lower softwood plywood import prices may ease costs for builders and renovators who rely on those materials, though the extraction does not state how far savings reach retail pricing. Higher hardwood prices could raise costs for furniture and cabinetry makers that depend on hardwood plywood.
The takeaway
Softwood and hardwood plywood prices are moving in opposite directions, so buyers should check which product category their projects rely on. Tracking monthly benchmark updates can help anticipate cost changes ahead of purchasing decisions.
Further reading
Track broader price pressures in the Inflation section.
