today at 11:58
,Sweden
Data from the State Forest Service (VMD) indicates that in 2025, 13.8 million cubic meters of wood were harvested in Latvian forests — a significant decrease compared to previous years. In 2024, the harvest volume reached approximately 16 million m³, while in 2023 — 15 million m³. Thus, a notable decline has been observed over two years.
Of the total 2025 volume, 6.7 million m³ were felled in state forests, and 7.1 million m³ — in areas managed by private owners and legal entities. The private sector has thus become the largest wood supplier, however, a decrease in activity is also observed there.
Market analysts explain the decline in harvesting with several interrelated factors: low activity in the European construction sector, high logging costs, and unstable timber prices in international markets. Due to these circumstances, many private forest owners choose to postpone felling operations, waiting for more favorable conditions.
In the Latvian roundwood market, a certain price stabilization is observed in the spring season, as evidenced by both the Forest Advisory Council prices (MKPC) and industry platform monitoring data. The coniferous sawlog segment remains relatively stable: spruce sawlogs are available on the market for approximately 90 EUR/m³, and pine — for approximately 80 EUR/m³.
In the hardwood segment, the price picture is more varied. The highest value in the export market is still maintained by birch veneer logs, whose purchase prices fluctuate in the range of 115–124 EUR/m³. A slight price decrease has been recorded for thick aspen timber — on average down to approximately 94 EUR/m³, while medium and thin aspen timber shows the opposite trend, reaching approximately 57 EUR/m³.
In the local heating market, firewood and energy wood prices have recovered slightly due to seasonal demand — at the roadside, they currently fluctuate in the range of 36–41 EUR/m³.
