Timber sales livelier in April

19 May, 2010

The latest industry figures indicate the “ingredients for lively roundwood sales are in place”, the Finnish Forest Industries Federation (FFIF) says.

“The forest industry needs to procure more timber of all grades and is interested in very available logging site as good demand for end products continues,” the FFIF said.

“Timber supply has also picked up so the ingredients for lively roundwood sales are in place.:

Livelier timber sales would also lead to more energy wood coming onto the market, it said.

In April, Finland’s timber purchases from private forests totalled 1.2 million m³. The aggregate purchase volume for January-April almost doubled from the same period in 2009.

As demand for end products recovers, timber prices are rising. Softwood stumpage prices rose by 4% in March, with pine log stumpage prices averaging €51 per m³ and spruce logs €52 per m³.