Lord Wood presents its timber brief for Wednesday, September 30, 2026. Our thoughts are with everyone affected across the region.
The key news: Brent fell 2.6% to $102.59 on Tuesday after Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu terminal returned to operation following this month’s pipeline attack. Oil is still up about 13% in September.
Why it matters for timber buyers: Fuel and war-risk costs are a large share of delivered timber prices in the Gulf and Iraq. A lower oil price is the first sign of relief in freight quotes. Timber itself remains cheap: CME lumber ended last week at $538 per thousand board feet.
The cost you can’t ignore: The US 10-year yield is above 5.1% and markets are discussing another Fed hike. For project buyers, the cost of holding stock is now as important as the price of the wood.
For our partners: Lock in timber prices while the market is soft. Ask for a freight review clause linked to Brent, so falling oil reaches your price. Schedule deliveries in stages to match your project, so you don’t finance a full yard of stock.
The honest caution: One attack can reverse today’s oil relief. Fix the product price and keep the freight terms flexible.
Lord Wood — quality timber for serious projects. Contact us for delivered quotations.
