Finnish timber sales sluggish

Sluggish timber sales from private forests continued in Finland last month although the Finnish Forest Industries Federation said prices were firm and it expects an uplift from Japanese reconstruction.

The FFIF said sales for the first quarter were down one-fifth from the previous first three months at 2.8 million m³. Sawlog procurement fell by a third to almost 1million m³.

However, prices remained strong, up on average 2% for softwood sawlogs and 3% for birch. Pine sawlogs fetched €53 m3 and spruce €54, while birch reached €44 m³.

A FFIF spokesperson said Japan was an important destination for Finnish sawn timber, accouting for more than 10% of exports, especially high grade sawn timber and processed wood products.

“Demand for sawn timber will increase on the markets once Japan starts to rebuild,” the spokesperson said.