FFIF : Lively Timber Sales Activity in June

Finland, Jul 13, 2011 - The forest industry purchased 4 million cubic metres of wood in June and all timber grades were in good demand. The volume of purchases doubled from May, matching the volume achieved in June last year.

Timber prices were high, translating into excellent earnings for forest owners who made timber sales in June.

Livelier timber sales activity in the early part of the summer has boosted the year’s aggregate procurement volume nicely. At the end of June, the aggregate volume of pulpwood purchases stood at 5.5 million cubic metres, while the corresponding figure was 3.8 million cubic metres for sawlogs.

Timber prices high

Timber prices are now higher than they have been for a few years and also high when compared to the average price of the 2000s. Stumpage prices rose 3% on average from May this year.

The average stumpage price of pine sawlogs was €57 per cubic metre and spruce sawlogs cost €59 per cubic metre. Birch sawlogs fetched €44 per cubic metre on average. The average stumpage price of pine and birch pulpwood was €16–17 per cubic metre and spruce pulpwood fetched €20 per cubic metre on average.

Now is a good time to sell timber

Exceptionally high market prices and good demand, which is at least for now targeting all timber grades, provide favourable opportunities for high earnings from stumpage sales. There’s still time for forest owners to take advantage of favourable conditions, as summer is a great season to conclude timber sales.