Sawn softwood production volumes declined 11.2% in EOS (European Organisation of the Sawmill Industry) member countries during 2009 but a slight recovery is predicted this year.
Members attending the organisation’s AGM in Como heard that the production volume totalled 70 million m³ – the same volume as 10 years ago.
“It is believed that this represents an absolute bottom level, which can only improve in the years to come,” it said.
“The sector expects a slight recovery of the market conditions and production levels by 6.1% in 2010.”
This would bring the production volume above 75 million m³ again.
Germany remained the largest producer with 19.7 million m³ and a share of 28.2%, followed by Sweden with 16.1 million m³ (23%) and Austria with 8.5 million m³ (12.2%). France has surpassed Finland into fifth place.
Softwood consumption reached 54 million m³.
In hardwood, production fell by 16.6%, with a 21.4% decline in France, which lost the country its first place in European hardwood production to Romania.
Romania accounted for nearly 30% of the total EOS production volume.
Hardwood consumption suffered more than in softwood, dropping by 31% between 2007 and 2009 to 5.8 million m³.
“This strong decline is not explained only by the economic crisis, but fuelled by structural changes in the main customer sectors, such as furniture,” it said.
