Forest industries' wood consumption 2017

In 2017, the forest industries’ roundwood consumption totalled 69.7 million cubic metres, which was 3 per cent more than a year earlier. The consumption increased for the fifth year in succession, being at the highest level since 2007. The consumption of forest industry by-products and wood residues, mainly sawmill chips and dust, in the manufacture of forest industry products amounted to 9.8 million cubic metres.

The forest industries processed a total of 62.2 million cubic metres of domestic roundwood. This amount was 3,3 million cubic metres or 6 per cent more than in the previous year and more than ever before. The consumption of imported roundwood continued to decrease, dropping by 12 per cent from the year before to 7.5 million cubic metres. Domestic roundwood accounted for nearly 90 per cent of the forest industries’ total roundwood consumption, being the highest ratio in nearly 40 years.

The consumption of roundwood increased from the previous year in all forest industry branches and in all assortments. The most roundwood was consumed by the chemical pulp industry, 32.5 million cubic metres (+2% year-on-year), being the highest amount so far. Consumption in the sawmilling industry increased to 26.3 million cubic metres (+4%). The most important roundwood assortments used by the forest industries were pine pulpwood (17.2 million cubic metres) and spruce logs (14.4 million cubic metres).

One fifth of roundwood, or 13.9 million cubic metres, were consumed in the region of South Karelia. The second and third highest amounts of roundwood were consumed in the regions of Kymenlaakso (7.4 mill. cubic metres) and Central Finland (6.1 mill. cubic metres), with consumption in the latter region increasing by one fifth from the previous year, i.e. one million cubic metre.