Lumber prices in Sweden have increased significantly. The Swedish Forest Agency reports that sawnwood and pulpwood prices increased significantly in the third quarter of 2023 compared to the second quarter of the same year.
Sawn lumber prices increased by 8%, while pulpwood prices increased by nearly 6%. From a regional perspective, Svealand saw the most significant price increase, with an increase of 11%, followed by Götaland, with an increase of 7%. However, sawn timber prices in North Norrland increased by only 1%, while sawn timber prices in South Norrland fell by 1%.
In terms of pulpwood prices, Svealand and Götaland increased by 6%, while Südnorland increased by 2%. In contrast, prices in North Nordland remained unchanged.
Comparing these data to the third quarter of 2022, the overall trend points to continued increases in log prices. Sawlog prices increased by 14%, with Svealand having the highest increase among all regions with an increase of 16%, followed by Götaland with an increase of 14%, Södra and Nora Nordland with an increase of 4% and 8% respectively.
Compared with the third quarter of 2022, pulpwood prices increased significantly by 37%. Svealand had the highest increase of 46%, followed by South Norrland and North Norrland, with increases of nearly 39% and 36% respectively. Pulpwood prices in Götaland increased by 30%.
The Swedish Forest Agency expects deforestation to decrease in 2023. Total deforestation in Sweden in 2023 is estimated to be approximately 93 million cubic meters. Compared with 2021, the volume of stumpage has decreased by 3 million cubic meters, and compared with 2022, it has decreased by 2.8 million cubic meters.