![\"\"](\"https:\/\/timberindustrynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/barkbeetle-2-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The summer looks set to be dry and hot, which may have consequences for the supply of sawn timber.<\/span><\/p>\n A shortage of forest raw materials can already occur in the autumn, writes\u00a0The\u00a0Swedish\u00a0Forest Industries Federation (Skogsindustrierna) in a new report, and emphasizes the importance that the construction sector must dare to use wood from forests infested with bark beetles.<\/p>\n Demand for Swedish wood products has been unexpectedly strong during the year, despite a weakened global market, and in March deliveries were still at record levels.\u00a0However, in the wake of the recession and reduced construction, demand continues to fall \u2013 at the same time as a hot summer threatens the supply of raw materials.<\/p>\n ''We are in a strange situation. Although we see a reduced demand, we also notice that the availability of forest raw materials is threatened. There may actually be a shortage of sawn timber products in Europe as early as autumn,'' says Christian Nielsen, market analyst for wood products at Skogsindustriern.<\/p>\n It is above all the weather that is the cause of the unusual situation.\u00a0In addition to low timber stocks after spring's unexpectedly high demand, the dry start of the summer has meant that several forest companies have introduced logging stops to avoid the risk of starting a forest fire while working in the forest.\u00a0The logging stop means a reduced supply of raw materials to the sawmills.<\/p>\n But the heat also favors the spruce bark beetle.\u00a0To prevent its spread, it is important to cut down damaged trees as quickly as possible.\u00a0This means that affected areas need to be prioritized only when felling can be resumed.\u00a0The supply of blued timber may then increase, while there will be smaller volumes than usual of the regular assortment.<\/p>\n ''Even healthy wood from forests with a lot of bark beetles is at risk of getting a bluish discoloration. It has been difficult for the sawmills to convey to the market in Sweden and Europe that this wood works perfectly as construction wood despite its discolouration, while both China and the USA are used to it,'' says Christian Nielsen and continues: ''In order to meet the climate goals, it is important to knowledge of how to use blued timber in construction is also increasing in Europe, so that we can use the fossil-free and renewable raw material from the forest as efficiently as possible. A change of attitude and more insights are clearly required in the construction sector and among consumers about how blued wood can be used.''<\/p>\n In the paper and pulp market, a falling demand and production is noticeable, all qualities have decreased during the first four months of the year compared to the same period last year.<\/p>\n ''But despite the weak development during the winter and spring, it is interesting to see the forest industry's strong and positive view of the future.\u00a0Planned investments for 2023 amount to over SEK 15 billion, 18 percent of the manufacturing industry's total investments, and that is almost as much as in the record year 2022. There is a great need for renewable materials as we transition to a more fossil-free and circular economy,'' says Daniel Eriksson, who is a market analyst for paper and pulp at Skogsindustriern.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The summer looks set to be dry and hot, which may have consequences for the supply of sawn timber. A shortage of forest raw materials can already occur in the autumn, writes\u00a0The\u00a0Swedish\u00a0Forest Industries Federation (Skogsindustrierna) in a new report, and … Continue reading