Lumber Exports from Nordic Countries Changing

Seattle, WA, June 24, 2013 -- Lumber exports from the Nordic countries have changed dramatically in recent years, according to Wood Resources International.

The European market has become relatively less important than it has been in the past, according to the WRQ (www.woodprices.com). Just five years ago, sawmills in Finland and Sweden exported as much as 73% of their total export lumber volumes to countries within Europe. By 2012, this share had fallen to 57%.

Finnish sawmills currently export over 55% of their shipments to non-European markets, with Japan and Egypt having become the two largest markets in 2012, ahead of the traditional markets of the United Kingdom, France and Germany.

During the first four months of 2013, Finland was the second largest softwood lumber supplier to Japan behind Canada, but ahead of Sweden, Russia and the U.S.

Another interesting development for shipments from Sweden is that although volumes
are still relatively small, exports during the first four months to China were up 130%. Volumes shipped to the improved U.S. wood market were more than four times higher this year than in the same period in 2012.