In 2024, Finland exported forest industry products valued at Euro 12.0 billion, representing 17% of the country’s total goods exports. Germany accounted for 11% of these exports, followed by China at 10% and the USA at 9%, according to the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke).
Export values rose by nearly 1% from the previous year in real terms. Europe remained Finland’s primary forest product market, taking 60% of total exports, while Asia accounted for 21%. The largest single export group was paperboard, which reached nearly Euro 3.3 billion in value, up 5% from 2023. Paperboard exports climbed 9% in volume to 3.6 million tonnes.
The lumber sector generated nearly Euro 2.0 billion in export revenue, a 7% increase. Lumber exports held steady at 8.2 million m3, with 48% shipped to European markets. The broader wood products industry earned over Euro 3.0 billion, up 2% in real terms. Image: Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke)
Pulp exports dropped 9% to 4.1 million tonnes, and the export value fell 5% to Euro 2.6 billion. Paper exports increased 4% in volume to 2.7 million tonnes, though the value declined slightly by 1%. Together, pulp and paper continued to account for a significant share of Finland’s forest exports, despite mixed performance in 2024.
Forest industry imports reached Euro 1.5 billion, equal to 2% of Finland’s total goods imports. Sweden was the top import source with Euro 0.28 billion in value, followed by Estonia at Euro 0.23 billion. Imports from Estonia declined by nearly 18%.
Wood imports into Finland totalled 5.6 million m3, rising 11% from the previous year. Pulpwood made up the majority at 57%, followed by wood chips at 31% and logs at 2%. The remaining 10% included fuelwood and industrial by-products. Latvia remained the largest wood supplier, exporting 2.2 million m3 to Finland—up 43% from 2023. Estonia followed with 1.7 million m3.
Lumber imports increased 11% to 52,000 m3. However, the value dropped 1% to Euro 37 million. This volume remains only about one-tenth of what Finland previously imported from Russia before trade was halted.
