Finnish Pellervo Economic Research Institute (PTT) is expecting the Finnish output of softwood timber to rise by an estimated 4-5 % above the figure for 2017. After the growth of 5 % achieved the year before to 11.94m m³ of softwood timber, the spring forecast published on 12 April predicts an increase to roughly 12.4-12.5m m³.
According to the latest forecast, the output of spruce and pine timber are expected to rise to the same extent. The anticipated growth in output this year is borne mainly by undiminished, positive sales conditions on the main timber export markets from the point of view of Finland. Although the PPT believes that the increase in the output of timber will probably flatten out, it is still predicting an increase of another +2-3 % for 2019.
PTT is also expecting timber prices to rise by +4-5 % in 2018, an increase comparable with that of the production figures. Owing to the recently renewed growth in demand from the markets in North Africa as well as stable sales conditions in China, the institute is anticipating above-average growth of 8-9 % for pine timber compared with 2017; prices for spruce are predicted to be +2-3 % higher.