Finnish log sales up 18% in 2013
16 January 2014Finnish log sales grew by 18% in 2013 but the high cost of that raw material impacted Finnish mills’ competitiveness on the international market, says the Finnish Forest Industries Federation (FFIF).
Log procurement volumes grew 26%, with 15.1 million m3 of sawlogs procured from a total of 33.4 million m3, which was up 10% compared to the average procurement volume over the past 10 years.
FFIF said the steadier than normal sales in the final months of 2013 meant the storms in December did not substantially increase timber trade volumes.
In December 2013, pine logs cost on average €55/m3, with spruce averaging at €56/m3 and birch €40/m3.
FFIF warned that Finland needed to capitalise on its growing forest stock, which is almost doubling every year compared with logging volumes.
"As much as a quarter of sustainable logging opportunities go unused each year," it said.
