Oct 22, 2008. /Lesprom.com/. The wood trade in Finland reached record results in August, but in September the wood purchases clearly dropped, Nordic Family Forestry reported. The forest industry wood procurement has indeed become highly selective over the last few weeks. ”The forest industry operating in Finland does not have any problems with the wood supply at the moment,” asserts Research Manager Erno Järvinen at the Forestry Group of the Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK). The forest industry wood requirement is declining this year by several million cubic metres. This principal reason for this is the exceptionally weak market situation for sawn timber. In addition, the production cutbacks in Finland’s pulp and paper industry as well as the bleak economic outlook will reduce forest industry wood requirements next year. Despite this, domestic wood will be needed more than before, since wood imports are significantly falling. Stands marked for cutting suitable for winter harvesting have already been purchased to cover practically all winter requirements. In addition, despite the record-high prices, wood has clearly been imported more than last year. Finnish wood – particularly pulpwood – is highly competitive at the moment, compared to imported wood. Preparation of the act on the taxation of sales proceeds from wood continues to be uncompleted. In addition to the final tax solutions, stimulation of the wood trade requires a substantial increase in buying activity, since forest owners intend to sell their wood in record quantities next year. For this reason, the act on taxes concerning wood sales should be completed as quickly as possible. Finnish wood can be used to the total of several more million cubic metres each year. “The use of domestic wood benefits our entire society," Mr Järvinen points out.