Estonian lumber exports increase by 18%

According to preliminary figures from Eurostat, Estonian softwood-lumber exports in the first quarter of 2012 showed year-on-year growth of 18% to 169,308 m³. Deliveries to other EU countries were up by as much as 26% to 129,572. Exports to non-EU countries, at 39,736 m³, increased by 1% year on year. Planed-goods exports were down by 3% to 70,143 m³. However, the higher export volumes must be seen in the context of the basis effect of low export volumes in the first quarter of 2011. The first three months of 2011 showed year-on-year decline in exports of 8%. Lumber imports were up by 3% to 149,359 m³, with imports from non-EU countries, above all Russia, increasing by 11% to 93,866 m³. Imports of rough-sawn lumber rose by 5% to 127,345 m³. Planed-goods imports were down by 9% to 22,014 m³.