Foreign trade in roundwood and forest industry products, 9/2023 (preliminary)

In September 2023 the exports value of forest industry products totalled EUR 0.95 billion which was in real terms 19% smaller than the average monthly export value in 2022. The volume of wood imports ended up at 0.26 million cubic metres.

Wood imports

• In September, 45% of wood imported originated from Estonia and 29% from Latvia. The third largest source, 17%, was Sweden.
• Of the wood imported in January-September, 59% was pulpwood and 24% chips. Fuelwood accounted for one tenth and by-products wood for 5%. The share of logs remained at 2%.

Exports of the forest industries

• The exports value of forest industry products was EUR 9.07 billion in January-September, 14% less in real terms than in the corresponding period of the previous year (deflated using wholesale price index, 1949=100). 
• In September 2023, the export price of sawn goods was EUR 206 per cubic metre, 31% lower in real terms than the average price of the previous year. The price of plywood was EUR 873 per cubic metre, 19% higher in real terms than the average of the previous year.
• The export price of bleached sulphate pulp in September was 26% lower in real terms than the average of the previous year, at EUR 538 per tonne. The export price for fine paper was EUR 1 113 per tonne (-4%) and for paperboard EUR 960 per tonne (no change). The export price of magazine paper fell by 2% in real terms compared to the average of the previous year, to EUR  813 per tonne.