News

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).

Sawlog prices continues to decrease

Sawlog prices decreased by 2.8 percent during the second quarter compared to the first quarter of 2019. At the same time, pulpwood prices were relatively unchanged.

Notified final felling area increases after slump in June

After a slump in notifications in June the forest owners’ engagement for final felling increased considerably in July. That is shown by monthly statistics from the Swedish Forest Agency. The area notified for final felling in July was the highest in 9 years. One reason for the increase could be higher activity in forest operations due to infestation of bark beetle which leads forest owners to notify for final felling to clear damaged forests despite it being the main summer holiday month.

Snow and drought led to higher felling costs in 2018

The cost of felling in large scale forestry increased in 2018, according to recent statistics from the Swedish Forest Agency. Large amounts of snow in the north and dry summer weather both contributed to higher costs for regeneration felling and thinning.

Bark beetle infestation increases notification of final felling

The notified area of final felling increased by 17 per cent in the region South of Sweden during May compared with the corresponding month in 2018. In some counties has is it doubled. That is shown by monthly statistics from the Swedish Forest Agency. One reason for the increase is the infestation of bark beetle which leads forest owners to notify for final felling to clear damaged forests. On national level there is only small alterations compared with May 2018.

Notification of final felling continues to increase

The notified area of final felling increased by 13 per cent in April compared with the corresponding month in 2018. Therefore, the trend of increased notifications continues, according to the Swedish Forest Agency's statistics. One reason is attacks of bark beetle. It is the highest monthly recorded data in 4 years for the whole country in April and the second highest in last 12 years.