Finnish log sales quiet

Finnish forest products industry log purchases from private forests halved in February to 550,000m³, compared to the previous month.

The Finnish Forest Industries Federation said weakened export demand and the harvesting of winter logging sites purchased during the last few years have decreased the need to make procurements.

A rapid fall in demand for exports towards the end of 2008 steered the production volumes of the forest-based sector into a steep decline in Finland.

Almost 1.9 million m³ of wood were bought from privately owned forests in January-February, down 46% from the corresponding period of 2008. January-February purchases of pine logs were down 37%, spruce logs 29% and birch logs 52% from the corresponding period of the previous year.