Foreign trade in roundwood and forest industry products, 12/2024 (preliminary)

In December 2024, forest industry products were exported for a total value of 0.94 billion euros, which was 5% less than the real monthly average for 2023 (using Wholesale Price Index, 1949=100). The export value of sawn timber improved by 4% compared to last year's average. This was due to the increase in the price, as the export volume decreased by 5%. The export volume of the pulp and paper industry declined by 5%, and the export value by 3%.

In December, 0.46 million cubic meters of wood were imported into Finland, which is 10% more than the average for the previous year. The import of pulpwood stabilized from the previous year, and the import volume was smaller than in December of the previous year but increased by 3% compared to the monthly average. The log import volume was the highest of the year 2024 in December and 58% more than the 2023 average. The import of wood chips also increased by 29%.

Forest Industry Exports in October–December 2024

• The export value of forest industry products totaled 2.96 billion euros in October-December, averaging 0.98 billion euros per month. The export value decreased by as much as 6% compared to the third quarter. Of the export value, 20% was paper, 26% paperboard, and 24% pulp. Sawn timber accounted for 18% and plywood 5%.
• The export value of the wood products industry was 0.78 billion euros in October-December, averaging 0.26 billion euros per month. The real export value of the wood products industry increased by 3% from the July-September value. Compared to the last quarter of the previous year, the value increased by nearly 9%.
• The exports of the pulp and paper industry diminished in the last quarter to 2.18 billion euros, which was almost 9% less than in the previous quarter. Compared to the corresponding period of 2023, the export value of the pulp and paper industry increased by 4%.
• The real export value of paperboard was 0.76 billion euros. It decreased by as much as 16% from the previous quarter but was still 10% higher than in the corresponding period of 2023.

Wood Imports in October–December 2024

• During October-December, 1.38 million cubic meters of wood were imported into Finland, which was 7% more than in the same period of 2023. Compared to the previous quarter, the amount was almost the same. Wood imports remained relatively stable in 2024.
• Of the imported wood, 40% came from Latvia, 32% from Estonia, and 14% from Sweden. Of the wood, 57% was pulpwood, 29% wood chips, and 2% logs, with the remaining 12% being by-products and firewood.

This is the last monthly statistics on foreign trade in the forest industry published by Natural Resources Institute Finland. We will publish the preliminary figures for the 2024 annual statistics on 4 April and the final figures on 16 September.