Timber trade prices in Finland rose to record levels in June, with volumes remaining high. According to the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), monthly real prices for pine and birch pulpwood hit the highest point in the 30-year history of the statistics. Average log prices in standing sales were last at this level in 2007 and 2008. The volume of roundwood trade in June was one third higher than a year ago. The cumulative volume of timber trade in the first half of the year matched last year's level and was 16% above the average of the previous five years.

In June, standing sales saw the average price of spruce logs exceed Euro 83 per cubic meter and pine logs nearly reach Euro 80 per cubic meter. These prices rose 2% from May and exceeded the average for last year by more than 10% in real terms. Birch logs' price rose to over Euro 67. All log prices reached exceptionally high levels, similar to those last seen in 2007-2008. Standing sales prices for pulpwood also rose, with spruce approaching Euro 35 and birch and pine around Euro 33, increasing by 5% from May and ending 25-28% above last year's averages. The monthly statistics, which began in 1995, have never recorded such high real prices for pine and birch pulpwood, and spruce prices were last at this level in 2007.

In delivery sales of pulpwood, the price of spruce exceeded Euro 51, while birch and pine were around Euro 50. Spruce pulpwood prices were last this high in 2008, while such high monthly prices have never been recorded for birch and pine.

Average timber prices and their real changes, June 2024:

Standing sales:

• Pine logs: Euro 80/m3 (up 2% from May, 12% from last year)
• Spruce logs: Euro 83/m3 (up 2% from May, 11% from last year)
• Birch logs: Euro 67/m3 (up 1% from May, 16% from last year)
• Pine pulpwood: Euro 33/m3 (up 5% from May, 28% from last year)
• Spruce pulpwood: Euro 35/m3 (up 5% from May, 25% from last year)
• Birch pulpwood: Euro 33/m3 (up 5% from May, 27% from last year)

 
Delivery sales:

• Pine pulpwood: Euro 50/m3 (up 2% from May, 10% from last year)
• Spruce pulpwood: Euro 51/m3 (up 3% from May, 9% from last year)
• Birch pulpwood: Euro 50/m3 (up 1% from May, 7% from last year)

Timber trade volumes in June remained above normal, despite a drop of more than a fifth from May. June's figures were a third higher than last year and 10% above the five-year average. The cumulative timber trade volume from January to June matched last year's level and exceeded the five-year average by 16%, with logs up by 19% and pulpwood by 9%.

Source: Luke