Sweden’s forests suffered as much as SKr30bn damage in the worst storms to hit the country in more than 100 years.
It is estimated that around 75m m3 of timber may have fallen, compared with annual logging of 80m m3.
Fears have been raised about a possible fall in saw log prices, but industry sources do not forsee immediate decreases due to a log shortage, usual high consumption in the spring and low stocks of sawn timber at mills.
Many trees snapped in the high winds, rather than blew over, so are likely to be more suitable for pulp instead of sawn timber.
Bjorn Lyngfelt, vice president of communications at SCA Forest Products, said the company has, along with others, been asked to assist with the clear up.
He said: “In the short-term we will not see much of a change in output, though in the medium term there may be some knock-on effects.”
Ulvar Kaubia of the forestry division of RMK, which manages the state forests, said harvesting cannot take place at present because of wet ground conditions, and that therefore no influence on the local timber market is expected.
She added: “Supply of logs to local mills has been poor, and we hope the storm will relieve the situtation. In general, volumes from storm damaged areas will not be additional to those initially planned – we will just reduce harvesting in other areas proportionally.”
