Volumes and prices of roundwood trade in Finland, 11/2023

The decline in industrial roundwood prices paused in November. In standing sales, the average log prices increased by 1% compared to October, while pulpwood prices remained steady. In delivery sales, there was a slight uptick in pulpwood prices.

Since June, the overall volume of roundwood trade has been approximately one-third lower than the previous year. However, owing to a brisk start at the beginning of the year, trade from January to November was 1% higher compared to the same period the prior year.

Timber Prices

- The average price for spruce logs in standing sales during November was EUR 70.2 per cubic metre, with pine logs averaging EUR 66.3. These prices saw a 1% increase from October and settled around 7% below the average prices for the entirety of the previous year in real terms.

- The nationwide average price of birch logs stood at EUR 60.1, marking a 1% rise from October and a 17% increase over the average for the previous year.

- In standing sales of pulpwood, the average price was EUR 26.2 for spruce, EUR 24.7 for birch, and EUR 23.7 for pine. Birch prices dropped by one percent, while other pulpwood prices remained consistent with the previous month. However, they surpassed last year's average prices by 13–20%.

- In delivery sales, average prices for pulpwood slightly rose, reaching EUR 47.2 for spruce, EUR 46.3 for birch, and EUR 45.1 for pine. These prices exceeded the average prices for the entirety of the previous year by 18–19%.

Trade Volumes

In November, the volume of industrial roundwood purchased from private forests was 27% lower than the previous year and 10% below the five-year average. From January to November, trade was 1% higher than the previous year and 1% lower than the five-year average. Comparing the past five years, log trade remained constant while pulpwood trade decreased by 1%.

Background Information on the Statistics

Unit prices in roundwood trade are recorded in the statistical database at current fair prices. However, changes in prices are analyzed in real terms by adjusting for inflation using the cost-of-living index. In November 2023, the annual increase in consumer prices was approximately three percent.

The recorded prices are based on agreements between buyers and sellers in wood trade. Other additional costs and services associated with wood trade are not included in these statistics.

Wood trade data for statistics are sourced from major wood buyers and forest management associations. However, as the information does not cover the entire non-industrial private wood trade in Finland, the published wood volumes represent only about 90% of the wood purchased by forest industries from non-industrial private forests.