Sawn timber and planed goods production in Finland totalled 12.7 million m3 in 2001, a 5% drop on the previous year.
The Finnish Forest Industries Federation (FFIF) in its newly-published ‘Finnish Forest Industry Facts and Figures 2002’ blamed the cut in production on the world economic downturn last year which led to reduced demand.
It also says the sawmill industry sustained an average loss of 8.5% in 2001 as the difference between sawn timber prices and raw material increased. Raw material costs accounted for an average of 76% of industry net sales last year.
Exports of sawn timber and planed goods totalled 8.2 million m3, which was 2.5% less than 2000. Planed exports increased 10% to 1.02 million m3.
Some 1.14 million m3 of plywood was produced in 2001, 3% down on 2000, while parquet industry output declined by almost 9% to around 4.9 million m2. Flooring based on three-ply laminated board is growing rapidly.
