Nov 11, 2011. /Lesprom Network/. Timber sales proceeded at a stable pace in October and prices were high relative to long-term averages. Domestic timber is in good demand and the timber market is expected to be robust also in the closing part of the year, as the Finnish Forest Industries Federation (FFIF) as the company said in a press release received by Lesprom Network. The forest industry purchased 2.9 million cubic metres of wood from private forest owners in October. The amount matched the September procurement volume. The January-October aggregate purchase volume stood at 20.7 million cubic metres, with pulpwood accounting for 11.5 and sawlogs for 8.4 million cubic metres. The industry needs domestic wood and timber sales are accordingly expected to proceed at a stable pace for the remainder of the year. All timber grades are in good demand. The exceptionally warm weather of this autumn has boosted demand especially for sites that can be harvested also when the ground is unfrozen. Demand for winter harvesting locations may vary regionally. Sawlog stumpage prices remained high when compared to September and long-term averages. The average stumpage price of pine sawlogs was Euro 55 per cubic metre and spruce sawlogs cost Euro 56 per cubic metre. Birch sawlogs fetched Euro 42 per cubic metre on average. Pulpwood prices decreased 1-3% from September. The average price of pine pulpwood was Euro 16 per cubic metre and birch pulpwood cost Euro 15 per cubic metre. Spruce pulpwood fetched Euro 19 per cubic metre on average.