The Finnish sawmill industry says the economic outlook is deteriorating rapidly and is urging the government to introduce a professional diesel system to protect the competitiveness of the country\u2019s wood processing sector.<\/p>\n
According to the industry, approximately 80% of sawmill production is exported, making transport costs a major issue for Finnish producers operating far from their key markets.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a necessary measure to secure the competitiveness of the wood processing industry in a rapidly deteriorating operating environment,\u201d said Tino Aalto, chief executive of the Finnish Sawmill Industry, in a press release.<\/p>\n
The Finnish government is currently preparing its budget framework discussions, which will determine the direction of public finances in the coming years. The sawmill industry is calling for measures that strengthen industrial competitiveness and support economic growth.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe crisis in the Middle East is increasing uncertainty in the market, affecting demand and increasing logistics costs. The government must urgently introduce a professional diesel system that will curb the rise in costs,\u201d Aalto said.<\/p>\n
The industry noted that only around one fifth of sawmill production remains in Finland, while exports account for the majority of output. Logistics therefore represent the second-largest cost item for sawmills after raw materials.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe introduction of commercial diesel has been discussed for years. Now a decision is needed. Finland cannot fall behind in competitiveness due to higher transportation costs,\u201d Aalto added.<\/p>\n
The sawmill sector argued that Finland\u2019s long transport distances, heavy reliance on exports and dependence on truck transport create structurally higher logistics costs that directly affect competitiveness in international markets.<\/p>\n
According to the industry, reimbursement levels for professional diesel should be based on the minimum level permitted under the EU Energy Tax Directive, estimated at around \u20ac0.17\/litre.<\/p>\n
The sector also warned that logistics costs are likely to face further upward pressure in the coming years due to tighter fuel distribution obligations and the expansion of emissions trading systems covering road and maritime transport.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":98747,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5204],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-98746","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n