In 2013, the Finnish Forest Industries Federation’s member companies procured 33.4 million cubic metres of wood from private forests. This represents an increase of 10 per cent compared to the average procurement volume over the past ten years. Wood stumpage prices increased from the previous year and high roundwood costs weakened industry’s competitiveness on the international market, thus reducing opportunities for additional wood use.
In 2013, timber sales volumes were 18 per cent higher than in 2012 in Finland. Log procurement volumes increased 26 per cent and pulpwood volumes 12 per cent compared to the previous year. Industry procurements amounted to a total of 15.1 million cubic metres of log and 17.1 million cubic metres of pulpwood. The stumpage prices of softwoods log increased 3-4 per cent on average, birch log prices fell one per cent while pine and birch pulpwood prices went up 1-2 per cent. Spruce pulpwood prices remained unchanged.
Finland cannot afford to not make the most of its forests, according to the Finnish Forest Industries Federation. The forest’s growing stock almost doubles every year compared to logging volumes, and as much as a quarter of sustainable logging opportunities go unused each year.
“The problem is that a great deal of Finland’s forest is not in the sphere of market activity and forests are left unmanaged. The short supply keeps costs high, weakens investment conditions that are based on domestic wood, and does not support the growth of the national economy. The functioning of the timber markets must be improved with structural reforms that revive the forest economy, and tax solutions are a key element in this respect,” says Forests Director Tomi Salo of the Finnish Forest Industries Federation.
