Finland’s timber sector enjoyed a good year with softwood lumber and planed lumber exports rising 15 per cent to 2.07 million cubic metres in the third quarter of 2017 compared to the same period the year before, according to a EUWID report.
Shipments to Europe rose nine per cent to 812,148 cubic metres while exports to East Asia were 59 per cent higher, reaching 646,006 cubic metres, according to reports from the Finnish customs authority. Exports to the Middle East increased by five per cent to 224,091 cubic metres. Deliveries to North Africa however fell 12 per cent to 370,533 cubic metres.
Rough-sawn softwood lumber exports totaled 1.92 million cubic metres, worth EUR359.0 million. Per unit price climbed slightly to EUR187/cbm.
Planed lumber exports amounted to 147,005 cubic metres valued at EUR41.8 million, an increase of 39 per cent. Per unit price rose 10 per cent to EUR284/cbm.
Wood imports increased by 14 per cent, followed by buoyant sales in the second quarter.
Exports totalled 6.9 million cubic metres, a nine per cent increase, over the first nine months of 2017. Deliveries to EU countries increased by seven per cent to 2.64 million cubic metres. The most significant increase rates were recorded for exports to Estonia (+38%), Austria (+26%), Belgium (+22%) and Italy (+17%). The UK (+5%), Germany (+4%) and France (2%) recorded marginal increases.
