Softwood log prices in Estonia start to fall from absolute records

The large-scale war started by Russia in Ukraine and the creation of an energy crisis in Europe as a hybrid war have also confused the timber market and led to considerable volatility and uncertainty in prices. Abnormally high softwood log prices in Estonia peaked in April, persisted in May and began to decline in June. The prices of the remaining assortments have continued to grow quite rapidly. The prices of pulpwood and firewood are incredibly high.

According to the price statistics of the Private Forestry Center, the second quarter of 2022 brought a drop in the price of softwood logs. This was to be expected and predicted despite the anxious international situation. The intensive import of Russian softwood logs and the techniques used to repel the raids of the spruce bark beetle certainly contributed here.

Thus, compared to the first quarter, the prices of pine sawlogs fell by 3-4% and the prices of spruce logs by 5-6%. As absolute price records were set in the previous months, the prices of all assortments are significantly higher compared to the prices at the end of June last year. During the year, pine sawlogs has become more expensive by 29.8% (€31.0/m3), pine sawlogs d<18cm by 23% (€21.5/m3), spruce sawlogs by 10.2% (€10.1/m3) and spruce sawlogs (d<18cm) by 15.2% (13 .9 €/m3). Based on the price statistics of the Estonian Private Forest Center, in June, a meter of pine sawlogs cost 135.02 euros, 115.24 euros for fine pine logs, 109.9 euros for spruce logs and 105.56 euros for fine spruce logs.

In the Estonian pulpwood market, price growth has continued despite the mysteriously high prices. In three months, the price of pine pulpwood has increased by 24.6%, spruce pulpwood by 22.9%, birch pulpwood by 19% and aspen pulpwood by 26.6%.