The year has remained tough for Swedish sawmills. Despite slight increases in sales prices during the third quarter, profitability continued to decline under the pressure of record-high raw material costs. The average operating margin for Swedish sawmills dropped to 2.2% in Q3, down from 6.7% in Q2. The outlook for the fourth quarter is grim, with most companies reporting stagnant prices alongside rising raw material costs, raising concerns that the year could end with zero margins. Cautious optimism for spring The situation appears slightly more promising—at least for those willing to wait until next ...