Finland\u2019s timber trade slowdown is expected to ease during the spring as sawmills increase purchases to rebuild declining log inventories after weak activity at the start of 2026.<\/p>\n
The market has remained unusually quiet in recent months, with timber trade described as being \u201cblocked like the Strait of Hormuz\u201d, even though demand from industry has continued.<\/p>\n
Roundwood trade volumes fell sharply during the first quarter as buyers reduced procurement after strong winter harvesting volumes and weaker construction activity in Europe.<\/p>\n
Industrial roundwood purchases from private forests in March were nearly 20% lower than a year earlier and more than 20% below the five-year average, according to data from Finland\u2019s Natural Resources Institute (Luke).<\/p>\n
Despite slower trade activity, timber prices have remained historically high and have started rising again after winter declines.<\/p>\n
Average standing sale prices for spruce sawlogs rose above 80 euros per cubic metre in March from around 77 euros earlier in the winter, Luke data showed. Pine sawlog prices increased to nearly 75 euros per cubic metre.<\/p>\n
The market slowdown follows two years of exceptionally strong timber demand after the loss of Russian wood imports tightened supply in Finland.<\/p>\n
Before Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Finland\u2019s forest industry relied heavily on imported Russian logs. The reduction in imports increased competition for domestic wood and pushed stumpage prices to record levels during 2024 and 2025.<\/p>\n
Spruce sawlog prices approached 83 euros per cubic metre during parts of last year, while pine sawlogs exceeded 80 euros in some regions.<\/p>\n
Many forest owners have delayed sales after last year\u2019s rapid price increases, expecting buyers may need to return more aggressively to the market later this year as inventories continue falling.<\/p>\n
At the same time, sawmills have tried to limit procurement costs because of weaker sawn timber demand in parts of Europe and uncertainty in the construction sector.<\/p>\n
Demand for spruce sawlogs has remained firmer than for several other wood segments due to relatively stable conditions in spruce lumber exports.<\/p>\n
Log prices have also started moving upward again since February as buyers gradually return to the market and winter inventories continue to decline.<\/p>\n
Competition for harvesting volumes could intensify during the second quarter if several large buyers return to the market at the same time.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":98646,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5204,4715],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-98645","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news","category-market-analysis","topic-forestry","topic-lumber","topic-price-analysis-and-info","topic-sawmilling","topic-wood-products","area-europe","area-global"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n