Upswing? Please hold the line – in 2027, too

The downward trend in lumber prices could be coming to an end. This positive signal came from the 74th International Softwood Lumber Conference that took place on October 29 in Dublin/IE. However, Europe’s softwood lumber industry has been waiting in vain for demand to pick up for four years. The hoped-for upswing is likely to fail to materialize in 2027 – just as it did in 2024, 2025, and 2026. The joint event of the European Organisation of the Sawmill Industry (EOS) and the European Timber Trade Federation (ETTF) is considered an indicator of sentiment for the following year. Their forecasts have generally proven accurate.