Timber sales nearly back to normal

Finnish Forest Industries Federation member companies purchased 33.2 million m³ of wood from private forests in 2010, heralding a return to near normal timber sales conditions.

The purchase is double the figure in 2009 and is close to the long-term average of the Finnish timber industry.

The total felling yield indicates that purchases of all buyers from private forests reached 45 million m³ in 2010.

In 2010, the average stumpage prices of softwood logs increased by 17-18%, with birch logs rising by 9%.

In December, pine logs were priced at an average of €52 per m³, while spruce logs cost €53 and birch logs €39.

The sales under the purchases for delivery category, in which the forest owner delivers the timber to a designated pick-up point, accounted for 17% of all timber sales, a 21% decrease compared to 2009.

The total volume of these sales was 5.5 million m³, an increase of 2 million m³ on 2009.