July holiday season dampens timber sales activity
Prices have stabilised
Price levels strengthened during the early part of the year and have now stabilised. Stumpage prices are above the long-term average and high in proportion to the prices fetched by the end products of the forest industry. The rising level of costs is weakening the ability of forest industry companies to compete on the global markets.
The average stumpage price of pine sawlogs was €57 per cubic metre and spruce sawlogs cost €59 per cubic metre. Birch sawlogs fetched an average of €44 per cubic metre. The average stumpage price of pine and birch pulpwood was €16–17 per cubic metre, while spruce pulpwood cost €20 per cubic metre on average.
Timber in good demand
Although the outlook for the end product markets is mostly stable, the general uncertainty regarding the economy is weakening predictability and is affecting product demand.
There is good demand for wood, as timber sales got off to a sluggish start in the early part of the year. Forest owners should take advantage of this strong demand because all timber grades are now being purchased at high prices.
Further information:
Anu Islander, Senior Adviser (Forestry), Finnish Forest Industries Federation, tel. +358 9 132 6678, +358 40 729 3678