According to new data published by Eurostat—the European Union’s statistics bureau, Ukraine is the largest source of EU softwood imports. Up to 40 per cent of all softwood entering the EU comes from Ukraine, with 491,000 cubic metres entering the EU in the first six months of 2024 alone.

Ukraine(40%, or 491,000 cubic metres) , Norway (32%, or 409,000 cubic metres), and Bosnia and Herzegovina (10.5%, or 133,000 cubic metres) are Europe’s new big three in the wake sanctions imposed on Russia, which together with Switzerland and Canada make up the vast majority of the 1.262 million cubic metres trade into the block.

And when it comes to species, spruce and fir accounted for almost half (48%) of all softwood imports (more than 600,000 cubic metres), which, along with pine (41%, or 521,000 cubic metres), spruce, pine, and fir (SPF) (6% or 73,000 cubic metres) made up the balance of trade.

Source: Eurostat