Finland's prices for pruned stems rose in the Q1 2023 and were the highest in real terms ever since statistics began in 2014. However, the volume of recorded trade in pruned stems was only slightly higher than in previous years. The high volume of logging residues pushed the total trade to a high of more than one million m3, according to the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke).
One third of the energywood trade was pruned stems, and the average price paid for it in standing sales was Euro 15.2 per cubic metre. This price was 9% higher in real terms than at the end of last year and 75% higher than the average price for the whole of last year. In delivery sales the mean roadside price rose by 3% from the previous quarter to Euro 38.5.
Logging residues accounted for just over half of the energywood trade. The average price paid for logging residues in standing sales was Euro 5.9 per cubic metre. Compared to the previous quarter, the unit price rose by 38% in real terms and by 14% compared to the whole of last year. The price in delivery sales fell by three per cent from the end of last year to Euro 20.5 per cubic metre.
As usual, there was a considerable regional variation in the price of energywood assortments.
A total of 1.1 million m3 of energywood trade was recorded in the Q1 2023. This was the highest during the Q1 in the statistical history since 2014 and half bigger than the average for the previous five years. Compared to the previous five years, trade in pruned stems increased by 10% and the trade in logging residues increased by 87%.
