Sep 03, 2013. /Lesprom Network/. Timber sales in Finland got off to a lively start at the beginning of 2013 and positive activity continued also in the 2Q of the year. Wood procurements were up 8% from the corresponding period of 2012, as the Finnish Forest Industries Federation said in the press release received by Lesprom Network.

January-June wood procurements came to a total of 16.2 million cubic metres, with sawlog purchases accounting for 7.3 million and pulpwood for 8.3 million cubic metres.

The rise in stumpage prices that commenced in the spring came to a halt in June. The price of wood remains high relative to the prices fetched by end products. High timber prices add to the forest industry's cost burden and weaken its competitiveness in the international markets.

In June, the average price of pine and spruce sawlogs was Euro 56-57 per cubic metre, fluctuating regionally and according to felling method between Euro 40 and Euro 59 per cubic metre. The average price of birch sawlogs was Euro 42 per cubic metre and fluctuated correspondingly between Euro 31 and Euro 45. The average price of pulpwood was Euro 16-18 per cubic metre and fluctuated between Euro 12 and Euro 20.