A regional shortage of raw timber sent Norway’s log exports up 16% in 2025 to their highest level on record, data from Lesprom Analytics show. The export value grew by 43% to $573 million, while the average export price rose 23% to $107 per m3.
Sweden remained Norway’s leading destination, taking 83% of total exports. Shipments to Sweden rose 22% to 4.43 million m3, and the value of these exports expanded 55% to $453 million. The average export price to Sweden increased 27% to $102 per m3.
The Swedish market and the wider Nordic region for forest raw materials remain characterized by structural undersupply. Import sanctions on Russian timber, political pressure, uncertainty, and tighter harvesting regulations have reduced available volumes. This shortage has driven record wood prices, even as industrial demand has stayed weak.
According to the Swedish Forest Agency, timber prices in Sweden reached their highest level in 34 years in 2024, while stumpage returns climbed to levels not seen since 1977. Forest owners recorded their highest profitability in a decade, at 64%. Toward the end of 2025, log prices in Sweden began to decline as supply gradually stabilized.
Germany held a 10% share in total Norway’s exports, importing 563 thousand m3, down 1% from the previous year. Despite the volume decrease, the export value to Germany rose 20% to $68 million, with the average price reaching $121 per m3.
Latvia, Denmark, and Finland together accounted for 6% of Norway’s total log exports in 2025. Exports to Latvia decreased 8% to 169 thousand m3, while shipments to Denmark and Finland fell by 4% and 11% respectively. The United Kingdom imported 20 thousand m3 of logs from Norway, a 6% decline, but the value of exports rose 13% to $10 million due to higher prices of $523 per m3. Bild: Distribution of Norway’s log exports by destination, 2019–2025. Sweden remained the dominant market, accounting for the largest share of export volume throughout the period, followed by Germany and Latvia / Lesprom Analytics
Softwood dominated Norway’s log exports, representing 97% of total volume. Hardwood logs made up 3%, equal to 165 thousand m3 valued at $12 million. Among softwood species, spruce and fir logs represented 52% of total exports, with shipments reaching 2.71 million m3 at an average price of $119 per m3. Pine logs accounted for 47%, totaling 2.43 million m3 valued at $224 million, with an average price of $92 per m3.
Sawlogs were the principal exported product, comprising 99% of total supplies. Poles and pulpwood together contributed less than 1%.
