Page 14 - FDMAsia MayJun 2025

12 MARKET BEATS MAY/JUN 2025 FDM ASIA | www.fdmasia.com

Geograph situation vis-à-vis other European producers in an already
sensitive situation.

Swedish forestry raised timber imports

Imports of roundwood to the Swedish forest industry increased
by as much as 26 percent in 2024 compared with the previous
year, according to new statistics from Biometria.
The amount of imported timber increased from 6.8
(2023) to 8.6 million m3fub last year. The total consumption
of Roundwood (pulpwood and sawn timber) increased from
72.1 (2023) to 72.8 million m3fub in 2024. The increase was
However, Nielsen points out that the interest rate cuts may due to the pulp industry. The sawmills ' consumption was
be the beginning of the Swedish market's recovery. basically unchanged, reported from Biometria.

Swedish exports within the forest industry remain strong Overall, this means that the consumption of round timber
despite a declining economy in 2024. of Swedish origin decreased by just over one million m3fub
However, the recent development of increased tariffs and landed at 64.2 million cubic metres.
creates significant uncertainty. Lars Björklund, responsible for Biometria's report, says in
"As one of the world's largest exporters of pulp, paper, and a press release that the consumption of wood of Swedish
wood products, the Swedish forest industry is also particularly origin has decreased by about nine percent since 2021.
vulnerable in the trade war, even though the US itself is not The amount of imported Roundwood in 2024 (8.6 million

the primary concern," emphasises the federation. m3fub) stands out in the statistics for the last five years. In
Figures from the federation show that between 5 and 10 2019, however, the figure remained the same, according to
percent of the annual Swedish forest industry exports go to the the report.
US. Furthermore, Sweden represents approximately 20 percent Biometria writes that the imported wood last year mostly
of the values of the EU's forest industry exports to the US. consists of pulpwood and has a higher proportion of leaves
The industry is concerned about the consequences for than domestic wood.
global trade and the global flow of goods.
"The recent abrupt changes in trade policy mean that Forests of Ukraine sells 93% of timber at auctions
unpredictability is falling like a wet blanket over Swedish According to interfax.com.ua, state-owned enterprise (SOE)

pulp and paper producers, who export 90 percent of their "Forests of Ukraine" sold 1.45 million cubic metres or 93
production. If the trade war escalates, it could, among other percent of the resource at auctions for the sale of timber for
things, lead to major disruptions in the global flow of goods. the second half of the year out of the proposed 1.56 million
It is difficult to predict the full extent of the consequences cubic metres, the SOE's press service said on Facebook.
other than that they are substantial potential movements," According to the report, the bidders contracted 96 percent
says Charlotte Dickens, market analyst for pulp and paper of roundwood and 91 percent of firewood for industrial use.
at the federation. "As a result of meetings with the business of SOE 'Forests

In addition, the federation writes that a stronger Swedish of Ukraine,' a new algorithm for forming the starting price
krone could also impact the industry and change the competitive was proposed (both at semi-annual and quarterly auctions).