Log exports to the Nordic countries from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have also fallen sharply, with most of the decline in softwood logs, while hardwood log shipments have been relatively stable, fluctuating between three and four million cubic meters per year, according to Wood Resources International.
The data shows that the trade in softwood logs in the Baltic region has declined steadily over the past five years.
In Q3 2018, Finnish and Swedish softwood log imports totaled 2.5 million cubic meters during the quarter, the highest level in 15 years, before trending downwards to slightly over 1 million cubic meters in Q1 2023 .
Neighboring Finland and Norway have seen the largest declines in trade flows to Sweden over the past year, with shipments from Sweden to Finland and from Latvia to Sweden increasing slightly.