This year's felling in Swedish forests is expected to decline by 2% compared to 2023, according to the Swedish Forest Agency's latest forecast. The agency estimates that gross felling in 2024 will reach 88 million m3 of standing volume, a drop of nearly 2 million m3 from 2023 and 7 million m3 less than in 2022.
This reduction in felling comes in response to lower demand in the forest industry, as production of sawn wood products is expected to decline by 4%. Pulp production is also projected to fall, contributing to a 1% reduction in pulpwood harvest. However, firewood harvest levels are expected to remain stable.
Felling in 2023 had already decreased following years of historically high activity, with previous peaks in 2005 and 2007 caused by storm events. "We assess that felling will continue to decrease," said Jonas Paulsson, statistician at the Swedish Forest Agency.
Roundwood trade is also expected to impact felling levels, with imports forecasted to rise by 0.7 million m3, while exports are projected to fall by 0.4 million m3.
Image: Annual gross felling 1950–2023 and forecast for 2024, million cubic meters standing volume / Swedish Forest Agency
