News

Less activity in final felling despite large problems with bark beetle damages

Monthly statistics from the Swedish Forest Agency shows a continuous decrease in notified area for final felling in October compared to the same month 2018 – in regions South of Northern Sweden and South of Sweden more than 30 per cent. The reason in South of Northern Sweden is the vast areas notified after the extensive forest fires last year, and lower timber rates may have had an impact in South of Sweden. In region Central Sweden the high level of activity in forest operations continues among forest owners.

Unusually large stock of wood in September

Stocks of softwood, pulpwood and pulp chips have fallen since this summer but are nonetheless unusually large for the season. According to the Forestry Agency's stock survey, the total stocks was 9.3 million cubic metres in 30 September this year. That is 34 per cent more than at the same time last year.

Roundwood prices turn downward

Both sawlog and pulpwood prices decreased during the third quarter of 2019 for the first time since 2016. The sawlog price decreased by 5.5 percent while the pulpwood price decreased by 4.7 percent compared to the second quarter of 2019.

91 percent of the area under regeneration was approved

The proportion of regeneration areas assessed and approved under the Forestry Act has shown a positive development since the turn of the century. The latest 3-year average showed that 91 percent of the area under regeneration was approved under §6 of the Forestry Act. This level is unchanged compared with the previous year’s results and remains at the highest level since the inventory started in 1999.

Decreased activity in notification of final felling area in September

Monthly statistics from the Swedish Forest Agency shows an overall decrease in notified area for final felling in September compared to the same month 2018 – in region South of Northern Sweden 41 per cent. The reason behind the decrease are the vast areas notified after the extensive forest fires last year. In region Central Sweden forest owners continues the high level of forest operations with an increase of 6 per cent of notified areas compared to September last year.

Gross felling is expected to increase in 2019

Harvesting is expected to increase this year, showing a forecast from the Swedish Forest Agency. If the forecast stands, it is the highest figure since 2007.The gross felling in 2019 is estimated to be 94 million forest cubic metres. It is slightly more than 2018 when the preliminary gross felling was less than 93.5 million cubic metres.

More forest land under forest management certification schemes and voluntary set-aside areas

Productive forest land under forest management certification scheme was 14.8 million hectares in 2018, which represents an increase of 3 percent since 2016. At the same time, forest owners' voluntary set-asides amounted to 1.2 million hectares during the same year, which is also an increase of 3 percent during the same period. These results are presented in a new statistical product that the Swedish Forest Agency will from now on publish annually.

Notified final felling area at the highest in 13 years

Monthly statistics from the Swedish Forest Agency shows that forest owners in the region Central Sweden notified 31 per cent more area for final felling in August than during the same month last year. In the rest of the country the notified area was a little lower than August last year.

Large timber stocks

According to the Swedish Forest Agency’s stock survey, the total stocks of coniferous sawlogs, pulpwood and pulp chips was 10.1 million cubic metres on June 30 this year. That is 36 per cent higher than in the same period last year. The stocks of pine and softwood pulp wood was 4.1 million cubic metres which is the highest levels since 2005.

Grossfellings still on rather high volume and increased import

According to Swedish Forest Agency the gross felling was estimated to 92.5 million cubic meters (standing volume) in 2017. The preliminary gross felling in 2018 is estimated to 93.4 million cubic meters (standing volume).