Log prices across Europe remain elevated, eroding sawmill profitability as lumber markets fail to keep pace. Mills in several countries report mounting pressure from input costs, with some operating at losses despite steady demand in certain segments.<\/p>\n
In Fran\u021ba<\/strong>, softwood log prices reached record levels in late August even as lumber sales weakened, widening the gap between raw material costs and product revenues.<\/p>\n In Finlanda<\/strong>, spruce standing-sale logs averaged around \u20ac86\/m\u00b3<\/strong> in June. Although some easing was reported later in the summer, the cost base remains historically high and weighs on profitability heading into autumn.<\/p>\n In Germania<\/strong>, sawmills complain of undersupply in raw material while redirecting lumber to overseas markets, including the United States, as European demand softens. This scarcity underscores the strain on domestic operators, who face both expensive feedstock and weaker selling prices.<\/p>\n In Austria<\/strong>, spruce sawlogs were frequently quoted in the \u20ac110\u2013120\/m\u00b3<\/strong> range for good-quality assortments between May and July. Weather risks and steady demand have helped keep prices firm.<\/p>\n The Nordic region<\/strong> shows the clearest stress signals. In Sweden<\/strong>, nine in ten sawmills are operating at a loss, with a recent pulpwood price cut offering only limited relief. Earlier sawlog cost increases and stagnant lumber prices continue to weigh on margins. In Norway<\/strong>, log prices hit historic highs earlier this year and, despite recent easing, remain well above pre-2024 levels.<\/p>\n The Baltic countries<\/strong> are also facing high raw-material costs. Lithuanian and Latvian sawlog prices have stayed firm through mid-2025, supported by strong regional demand and limited supply. Estonian mills report similar conditions, with costs remaining above long-term averages and leaving operators exposed to tight spreads against subdued lumber markets.<\/p>\n In Poland<\/strong>, state forests announced log offerings for 2025 will be about 2 million m\u00b3<\/strong> lower than previously expected, prompting warnings from industry associations of a raw-material crunch and rising financial strain.<\/p>\n The persistent mismatch\u2014high log prices against relatively weak lumber prices\u2014has left sawmills across Europe vulnerable. In countries such as Germany and Poland, restricted availability compounds the problem, leaving mills little flexibility to source cheaper logs.<\/p>\n Unless lumber demand stages a significant rebound, the current spread will continue to erode profitability. Spot easing in Finland and Norway offers some relief, but the broader European market remains under pressure as raw-material costs hover near record levels.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":50590,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5204,4714],"tags":[3299,3722,3348],"class_list":["post-96741","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news","category-wood-industry-prices","tag-europe","tag-log-prices","tag-sawmills","topic-forestry","topic-lumber","topic-price-analysis-and-info","topic-sawmilling","topic-statistics","topic-wood-products","area-europe","area-global"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n