Skip to main content

Stumpage earnings decreased slightly during the 2020 coronavirus year

News 17.6.2021

Forest owners received EUR 2,136 million in stumpage earnings in 2020. Earnings decreased from the previous year by 4 per cent in real terms. The stumpage earnings statistics of the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) show that there was a drop of 6 per cent compared to the average of the previous five years.

Private non-industrial forest owners, communities and companies whose primary line of business is other than wood production accounted for the majority of the total earnings, EUR 1,803 million. Of this amount, private non-industrial forest owners covered roughly 90 per cent. Earnings from forests owned by the forest industry or the state increased to a total of EUR 332 million (+15%). Two thirds of the stumpage earnings were obtained from logs. Spruce remained the most important tree species with a share of 45 per cent of the earnings.

The earnings decreased from the previous year by EUR 160 million. Calculated in nominal prices, the decrease in earnings was 7 per cent, i.e. larger than when calculated using the wholesale price index, because wholesale prices declined in 2020. Felling volumes of logs decreased by 4 per cent, and those of pulpwood by 11 per cent. The earnings decreased especially due to the reduction of felling in non-industrial private forests by 10 per cent. There were no significant changes in standing sales prices.

“In addition to the uncertainties caused by the coronavirus, the labour dispute in the sawmill industry early in the year decreased stumpage earnings. Forest owners’ earnings come largely from logs, so the high demand for toilet paper is not significantly reflected in them”, says Esa Uotila, researcher at Luke.

Top six regions visible in the earnings

South Savo, Central Finland and North Savo take the top three places when earnings are viewed by region, with North Ostrobothnia, North Karelia and Pirkanmaa following as the next three, with roughly even figures. These regions accounted for significantly more than half the total earnings. In real terms, earnings increased slightly in Kainuu (+1%) and Central Finland (+0%), and decreased most in Åland (–19%), South Karelia (–13%) and Kymenlaakso (–10%).

Stumpage earnings as part of the national accounts

Gross stumpage earnings are calculated by multiplying the felling volume by standing sales prices. In addition to the earnings from selling wood, the value of wood sourced for private use by the forest owners is also counted as earnings. Among other things, the gross stumpage earnings statistics are used in calculations for the national accounts and as background information for decision-making in the forest sector. The statistical database of Luke (stat-luke.fi/) includes statistics of stumpage earnings since 2002. Earnings are presented in accordance with the location in which they are generated.