According to the latest survey by the Swedish Forestry Agency, unusually low stocks of softwood sawnwood were reported on September 30, falling sharply to 2.1 million cubic meters. This stock level has not been recorded since measurements began in 2013.

Shortages of softwood sawtimber were observed in all timber balance areas. In contrast, pulpwood stocks are flat or slightly higher than the previous year. Compared to the end of September 2022, softwood pulpwood, including spruce pulpwood, increased by 4 percent to 3.1 million cubic meters. Hardwood pulpwood stocks also increased significantly, totaling 0.8 million cubic meters, up 40 percent from a year ago .

In comparison, total lumber stocks at September 30, 2023 were 6.7 million cubic meters, down 5% from a year earlier.

Broken down by species, there were the following changes compared to the same period last year:

Softwood sawtimber: 2.1 million cubic meters (-26%)

Pulpwood: 3.9 million cubic meters (+9%)

Pulpwood chips: 0.7 million cubic meters (+5%)