Foreign trade in roundwood and forest industry products, 3/2022 (preliminary)

In the first quarter of the year, wood imports totalled 1.87 million cubic meters and decreased by 40% from same period previous year. Of imported wood 45% was pulpwood, 41% chips and 3% logs. Compared to the same period previous year the imports of pulpwood decreased by 48%. The imports of chips decreased by 32% and logs 56%. In March wood imports totalled 0.41 million cubic meters and was the lowest monthly import volume in the 21st century.
Of imported wood in January-March 72% originated from Russia, 12% from Estonia and 8% from Latvia. Wood imports from Russia decreased by 39% compared to the same period previous year.
In January-March 2022 the exports value of forest industry products totalled in real terms EUR 3.21 billion and decreased from previous year by 3% (deflated using wholesale price index). The exports value of forest industries was EUR 1.14 billion in March.
At the same time the exports value of wood-products industries was EUR 1.11 billion and increased by 25% in real terms compared to previous year. The exports value of sawn goods increased by 22% and volume was unchanged. For plywood the exports value increased by 9% and volume decreased by 2%.
The real exports value of pulp and paper industries was EUR 2.10 billion and decreased by 14% compared to previous year. At the same time the exports value of bleached sulphate pulp decreased by 12% and volume decreased by 21%. The exports value of magazine paper decreased by 35% and volume by 45%. For fine paper on the exports value decreased by 69% and volume decreased 77%. The exports value of paperboard increased by 17% and volume 12%.
In the first quarter of the year the most important exports product was paperboard with 32% share of the exports value. Second was sawn goods, 22% share. The share of pulp was 17% and paper only 13%.