Finnish log purchases livened up in May, with more than two million m³ of wood purchased from private forests.
The January-May aggregate purchase volume more than doubled from the corresponding period of 2009.
But despite the increase, current sales figures still remain substantially behind the long-term average.
More than one million m³ of wood would have to be purchased from private forests in each remaining week of the year for the long-term average to be reached in 2010.
Consequently, log shortages remain a problem for sawmills in certain areas, according to the Finnish Forest Industries Federation.
Pine log stumpage prices rose 2% during the period, while spruce log prices rose 3% and birch logs 1%.
The average stumpage price of pine logs was €53 per m³, while spruce logs fetched €54 per m³. The average price of birch logs was €54.
