Statistics released by the Swedish Forest Industries Federation show Sweden’s sawn and planed timber exports were down 10.6% to 3.65 million m3, with sawn products dipping by about 13.8% to 1.94 million m3 and planed exports reducing by 6.7% to 1.7 million m3.
The Finnish Forest Industries Federation (FFIF) said the European economic downturn continued to depress demand for timber and plywood, with overall Finnish export volumes to Europe reducing by 2%.
The Swedish figures show combined sawn and planed exports to the UK were 1.15 million m3 (-7.8%), comprising 674,700m3 of planed material (+0.3%) and 479,400m3 of sawn timber. Sawn pine was down 13% to 314,400m3 and sawn spruce dipped 23.9% to 165,000m3.
Germany was the second largest export market for Sweden at 535,400m3 (sawn and planed). Germany’s Swedish sawn imports were more than twice the volume of planed products.
However, Asia was a growth market for Sweden, with sawn and planed exports growing 30.7% to 1.13 million m3. The FFIF said Finland had also benefited from export markets beyond Europe, with these shipments rising 16% in the first half. Japan, in particular, was a growth market.
Finnish sawn timber production grew 5% to 5.3 million m3, compared to a year ago. Plywood production also increased 5% to 550,000m3.
FFIF said the outlook for Finland’s sawmill industry remained poor as no rapid improvement in economic conditions was expected.
“Costs have risen in Finland in spite of the recession,” said FFIF director-general Timo Jaatinen.
“All additional burdens created in Finland erode the competitiveness of the export sector. In Finland we need political decisions which promote the operating conditions of export companies fast and with a long-term impact.”
