Quebec Business Trends September 2026 – Spotty Markets Dominate Depending On Region
The Quebec Forest Fire Service fought 195 fires across the province by mid-July, including 13 in areas where crews actively suppress blazes. Quebec brought in more than 100 firefighters from B.C., N.B. and PEI to support the 640 Quebec forest firefighters and auxiliary combatants already deployed, through the Canadian Agreement for Mutual Assistance in the Event of Forest Fires, which allows provinces and territories to share firefighting resources during periods of heightened fire activity.
SOPFEU, Quebec’s forest fire prevention and firefighting organization, reported 195 fires burned across Quebec, including 13 in the province’s intensive protection zone — the more populated part of the province where fires are actively fought because they pose a potential risk to communities, infrastructure or economic activity. They said many of the fires were burning deep underground, making them more difficult to extinguish.
These devastating fires also have significant consequences for the logging and forestry sectors, disrupting forest management activities, limiting timber harvesting, damaging infrastructure, and affecting the livelihoods of workers and communities that depend on the industry.
Depending on areas located, hardwood market reports are mixed as some report fair sales with decent prices while others are experiencing challenges trying to make a profit for certain items, and managing inventories. Sales activity to China has slowed down. Some hardwood flooring manufacturers noted increased sales as housing renovation market and home building rose slightly.
Ash demand is meeting supply, with green markets being stable. Some contacts report exports to Asia are good.
Cherry producers and secondary producers are reporting steady sales, although they commented activity was slower over the summer. Sales are better for FAS, followed by No. 1 Common and No. 2A.
The regionally important Hard Maple continues to be in demand, although south of the border sales are reported as quieter. Green and kiln-dried supply and demand were balanced. Soft Maple sales are stronger for No. 1 Common and No. 2A.
Hickory demand is stronger compared to some other species, and kiln-dried Hickory was moving at a steady pace.
The Government of Canada is providing more than $17 million to 12 Quebec forest-sector transformation projects supporting low-carbon technologies, to expand manufacturers’ capacity to add value to wood products, diversify export markets and increase Indigenous participation, Natural Resources Canada announced.
Quebec’s forest sector generates $6.4 billion in provincial GDP, represents nearly 10 percent of the province’s exports by value and supports nearly 60,000 jobs. Across Canada, the forest sector supports nearly 200,000 workers, including more than 11,000 Indigenous people, and contributes more than $20 billion to GDP.
The federal government introduced more than $2 billion in measures for Canada’s forest sector since August 2025. It is also providing an additional $400 million through Canada’s regional development agencies and expanding support through the Business Development Bank of Canada.
A draft federal Forest Sector Action Plan released in June 2026 is scheduled to lead to a national Forest Sector Strategy by the end of 2026. The funding for the Quebec projects was first announced during the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers’ annual meeting in June.
On the housing side, following the announcement in April 2026 of the first phase of the partnership between Build Canada Homes and the Société d’habitation du Québec to build more than 850 affordable homes, the governments of Canada and Quebec have announced the second phase of their housing partnership, adding about 2,000 new affordable homes across Quebec.
On the tree planting side, FP Innovations is evaluating the use of drones for aerial forest seeding as an innovative way to support reforestation in areas affected by wildfires, particularly remote or difficult-to-access locations. With funding from the Quebec Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests (MRNF), the project aims to determine whether drone seeding can complement traditional reforestation methods.
During field trials conducted in spring 2026, researchers tested different drone systems, remote sensing technologies to identify suitable planting sites, and various seed capsules and seed types.
The study will assess the technology’s technical feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and the situations where it could provide the greatest benefit. Conducted in partnership with government, academic, and industry organizations, the project could provide forest managers with a new tool to help accelerate the regeneration of forests following wildfires. Preliminary results are expected to be released in fall 2026.
