A sharp increase in storm-damaged timber entering the Swedish market is beginning to ease log prices across parts of Scandinavia, offering sawmills and wood processors access to cheaper raw material after months of exceptionally high procurement costs. Yet the lower prices come with a complication that could prove more significant than the discount itself.<\/p>\n
From 30 December 2026, every company placing timber products on the EU market \u2014 regardless of size \u2014 will have to comply with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). For buyers of salvage timber, that means proving not only where the wood came from, but also maintaining complete traceability even when individual lots originate from multiple harvesting sites.<\/p>\n
Storms reshape Sweden's timber market<\/strong><\/p>\n Sweden's largest forest owners' association, S\u00f6dra, reduced timber purchase prices from 18 June after two major storms significantly increased harvesting volumes in southern Sweden.<\/p>\n Storm Johannes, which struck in December 2025, was followed by Storm Dave in April 2026. Together they brought millions of cubic metres of damaged timber onto the market, temporarily shifting the balance from limited supply towards abundant availability.<\/p>\n The result has been the first broad reduction in S\u00f6dra's purchase prices this year. Standard pine sawlogs recorded some of the largest adjustments, while spruce pricing remained comparatively firm after additional regional premiums were introduced in southern Sweden.<\/p>\n The price correction reflects higher timber availability rather than weaker consumption. Demand from Scandinavian sawmills has changed little over recent months, but buyers now have greater choice than they did during the supply shortages seen earlier this year.<\/p>\n Lower prices do not mean lower compliance<\/strong><\/p>\n For timber buyers, however, the market opportunity comes with new administrative demands.<\/p>\n Storm-damaged timber is frequently assembled from numerous harvesting sites before reaching processors. While that practice is operationally efficient, it makes traceability considerably more complex than for conventional harvesting operations.<\/p>\n Under the EUDR, operators purchasing timber from Sweden benefit from the country's low-risk classification. That simplifies the due diligence process, but it does not remove the obligation to collect detailed origin information, including the geolocation of the forest plots from which the timber originated.<\/p>\n If timber from different locations is combined into a single commercial lot, maintaining a clear chain of information becomes substantially more demanding.<\/p>\n For companies hoping that lower procurement costs will simplify sourcing decisions, the opposite may prove true.<\/p>\n Smaller companies face the same deadline<\/strong><\/p>\n Another misconception persists among many small wood processors.<\/p>\n Some businesses continue to believe they have until mid-2027 before complying with the regulation. That is not the case for the timber sector.<\/p>\n All operators and traders placing timber and timber products on the European market must comply with the EUDR from 30 December 2026, irrespective of company size. The later deadline applies only to micro and small enterprises operating in sectors outside those covered by the timber provisions.<\/p>\n With less than six months remaining, many smaller sawmills, importers and furniture manufacturers have yet to establish systems capable of collecting, storing and retrieving the documentation required under the regulation.<\/p>\n Certification alone will not satisfy regulators<\/strong><\/p>\n Certification is another area where confusion remains widespread.<\/p>\n Forest certification schemes such as FSC and PEFC continue to play an important role in demonstrating responsible forest management and chain-of-custody controls. They can also support elements of a company's due diligence process.<\/p>\n They do not, however, replace the obligations created by the EUDR.<\/p>\n Operators remain responsible for obtaining the information required under the regulation, including geolocation data, maintaining documentation and submitting the required due diligence statement before products enter the European market.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A sharp increase in storm-damaged timber entering the Swedish market is beginning to ease log prices across parts of Scandinavia, offering sawmills and wood processors access to cheaper raw material after months of exceptionally high procurement costs. Yet the lower … Continue reading