Volumes and prices in roundwood trade, 9/2022

Figures corrected in July 2022-February 2023 data on 20.4.2023.​

Read more on the page Changes and corrections in the statistics.​

Timber trade continued brisk in September, with the total volume five per cent higher than the average for the previous five years. In standing sales, prices of coniferous logs fell by two per cent from August. The price of birch pulpwood rose by two per cent, ending up six per cent higher than the average price for the whole of last year in real terms.

• The recorded volume of timber trade in private forests remained at 4.2 million cubic metres in September. It was five per cent higher than the average over the previous five years.
• However, timber trade in January-September was 21 per cent down year-on-year and six per cent lower than the average for the previous five years. Compared to the previous five years, log trade diminished by one per cent and pulpwood trade by 10 per cent.
• In September, an average of EUR 73.0 per cubic metre was paid for spruce logs and EUR 68.7 for pine logs in standing sales. Compared to August, prices fell by two per cent. The real price level of logs was three per cent higher than during the whole previous year in standing sales.
• The standing sale price was EUR 22.3 per cubic metre for spruce pulpwood, EUR 20.0 for pine pulpwood and 20.3 for birch pulpwood. The price of pine pulpwood fell by one per cent from August, while price of spruce increased by one and price of birch by two per cent. The average price for the whole of last year was exceeded by six per cent for birch pulpwood, while for conifers the increase was less than one per cent.
• The average roadside price of pine pulpwood was EUR 37.1, spruce EUR 39.4, and birch EUR 39.1. The price of pine, spruce and birch rose by one, three and four per cent respectively from August. The average price for the whole of last year was exceeded by six per cent for pine pulpwood, eight per cent for spruce and 11 per cent for birch.

Unit prices in roundwood trade are recorded in the statistical database at the fair prices valid each time. However, price changes are examined in the texts and graphs in real terms by eliminating the change in value using the cost-of-living index. Before February 2022, the wholesale price index was used in this calculation.

The recorded prices are based on prices entered in wood trade agreements between the buyers and sellers. Any other increments and services related to wood trade are not included in the statistics.

Wood trade data for statistics are provided by the largest buyers of wood and forest management associations. As the information is not rounded up to correspond to the total non-industrial private wood trade in Finland, the published wood volumes only represent about 90 per cent of the wood purchased by forest industries from non-industrial private forests.