Increase in roundwood prices 2022

Nyhet | Statistik - 24 January 2023

In 2022 the roundwood prices on delivery timber increased for sawlogs by 14 percent and for pulpwood by 19 percent in comparison to 2021. The prices are volume weighted averages for delivery timber and refer to current prices, which do not take inflation into account.

The price on sawlogs refers to annual average prices for sawlogs of pine and spruce. Regionally there are some slight differences regarding the development of prices on sawlogs. During 2022 the prices on sawlogs in Götaland increased by 12 percent in comparison to 2021 while the prices in Norra Norrland increased by 11 percent.

The roundwood prices on pulpwood refers to annual average prices for pulpwood of pine, spruce, and birch. Regionally there are some differences regarding the pulpwood prices. During 2022 the pulpwood prices in Norra and Södra Norrland rose by almost 8 and 9 percent respectively.

The volume of delivery purchase roundwood, which the statistics are based on, has decreased by more than half during the last 20 years, both regarding sawlogs and pulpwood. Delivery purchase represents a small share of the total sales of roundwood. The volume of sawlogs and pulpwood included in the statistics amounts to approximately 3,4 million cubic meters solid volume under bark.

Continued increase also during fourth quarter

Along with the annual statistics we also present statistics on the fourth quarter of 2022. Just as the third quarter in 2022 prices on both sawlogs and pulpwood of delivery timber continued to increase. Prices on sawlogs increased by almost 3 percent during the fourth quarter in comparison to the third quarter of 2022. The largest increase for sawlog prices were in Götaland by 4 percent while the increase in Svealand was 3 percent. In Norra Norrland the prices on sawlogs increased by 2 percent while they remained unchanged in Södra Norrland. The price on pulpwood increased by 17 percent in the entire country during the fourth quarter in comparison to the third quarter of 2022.

Clarification
Delivery purchase is a method which means that the forest owner themselves, with or without the help of employees or contractors, deliver their wood to the roadside. Delivery purchases account for less than 10 percent of the total sold quantity.

Please note that the average prices are volume-weighted roundwood quantities. These prices refer to current prices, which do not take inflation into account.

The survey is part of Official Statistics of Sweden.