Statistics Sweden said exports for the first half of the year were 8.2% higher than the same period a year ago.

In the first quarter Swedish mills posted a 9% increase on the year. The average value for the first six months was up 7.7% at SKr1,976 per m3, but was SKr2,045 per m3 during June.

Volumes shipped to the UK were up 14.7% at 1.4 million m3, while Germany’s share continued to shrink with a 2.9% drop on the year. The biggest increase was 102% by Ireland.

Egypt remained an import market with an increase in shipments of 98%.