The cost of harvesting in Sweden (felling and extraction to roadside) increased by 4% in 2024, according to new statistics from the Swedish Forest Agency and Skogforsk. The rate of increase has declined compared to the two previous years that saw increases of 9% in 2023 and 12% in 2022. However, in fixed prices the change is smaller.
During 2024 harvesting costs (in current prices), on average for the whole country, have increased by 4% to SEK 139 ($14.6) per cubic metre for regeneration harvest, and 3% to SEK 278 ($29.1) per cubic metre for thinning.
The cost increase was greater during the two previous years, when the cost of regeneration felling rose by 12% in 2022 and then by 9% in 2023. Adjusted for inflation by using fixed prices, the changes have been smaller. In 2024, the cost increased by 1%, remained unchanged in 2023, and rose by 4% in 2022.
The cost for regeneration harvests increased in both northern and southern Sweden during 2024, by 4% and 3%. The cost for thinning increased by 7% in northern Sweden and 1% in southern Sweden.
The Swedish Forest Agency and Skogforsk have produced these statistics since 1996. Since then, the cost of regeneration harvests in current prices has increased by 54% while thinning has increased by 82%. In fixed prices, with the reference year 1996, the cost for regeneration felling has decreased by 5% since 1996 and the cost for thinning has risen by 13%.
