Last week’s auctions at the Ukrainian Energy Exchange for untreated timber showed the following results:
- the exhibited volume amounted to 23.44 thousand cubic meters;
- 8.56 thousand cubic meters of wood were sold;
- the cost of timber sales amounted to UAH 25.58 million (including VAT);
- the state received additional income during the English auction in the amount of UAH 3.17 million (including VAT).
Untreated timber was sold by forestry enterprises from 5 regions of Ukraine. The largest volume was sold in Khmelnytsky region.
The distribution of untreated timber sales was as follows: 55% - firewood, 45% - round timber.
Round timber
During the reporting period, the company sold 3.86 thousand cubic meters of round timber for a total of UAH 17.43 million (including VAT).
Pine, oak, and spruce were the most popular species sold, with their share in the total structure amounting to 41.24%, 25.11%, and 15.64%, respectively. We also sold such species as hornbeam, birch, alder, aspen, red oak and others.
The maximum average increase from the starting price was recorded at 88%. Given that the auction step is 1%, on average, the largest number of steps was for birch, ash and pine.
The graph shows the types of wood and their maximum values.
Firewood
During the reporting period, the volume of firewood sales amounted to 4.70 thousand cubic meters for the amount of UAH 8.15 million (including VAT).
The vast majority of firewood (84%) was sold for industrial use, while 16% was sold for non-industrial use.
Among firewood, hardwood and softwood firewood were in the highest demand, accounting for 37% and 20% of total sales, respectively.
The chart below shows the structure of firewood sales by grade and species.
Price indices
Spruce showed the biggest upward trend among roundwood price indices, with a 17% increase and a price of UAH 3,284.46 per cubic meter including VAT.
In turn, the maximum decline was observed for alder. The weighted average price index amounted to UAH 2,590.44 per cubic meter including VAT.
Weighted average price index for timber, April 21-25, 2025
| Species | UAH/cubic meter (including VAT) |
|---|---|
| Silver birch | 3 355,02 |
| Forest beech | 3 342,83 |
| Black alder | 2 590,44 |
| Common oak | 22 754,33 |
| Common pine | 3 792,12 |
| European spruce | 3 284,46 |
| White fir | 2 960,81 |
| Common ash | 6 404,38 |
The price index for non-industrial firewood of the third group increased the most, reaching UAH 1,706.40 per cubic meter including VAT, which is 15% higher than in the previous period.
Among all types of firewood, the cost of firewood of the second group has decreased the most, and now amounts to 990.00 UAH/cubic meter including VAT.
Overview of news on the timber market in Europe
Metsä Group sees a downturn in the timber market, with lumber prices rising despite weak demand
Metsä Group reported weak first-quarter results in its wood-related business segments, citing continued weak demand from the construction sector and regional differences in wood markets. Nevertheless, sawn timber prices rose year-on-year due to increased supply and tight supply.
Sales in the group’s pulp and paper division rose to €788.7 million in the first quarter of 2025 from €584.5 million in the same period last year, driven by higher pulp and sawn timber prices. Comparable operating profit reached €38.3 million, up from a loss of €14.7 million a year earlier when political strikes disrupted production and logistics in Finland.
Round timber prices in Sweden to rise in the first quarter of 2025 due to high demand
Round timber prices in Sweden rose sharply in the first quarter of 2025 due to strong demand for sawlogs.New data from the Swedish Forestry Agency show that average sawlog prices rose 11% compared to the previous quarter, while balancewood prices rose 5%.
The price for pine sawlogs reached SEK 972 per cubic meter (EUR 84), compared to SEK 866 (EUR 75) in the fourth quarter of 2024. The price for spruce sawlogs increased from SEK 1006 (EUR 87) to SEK 1110 (EUR 96). Coniferous balance wood cost SEK 649 (EUR 56) compared to SEK 613 (EUR 53), while the price of hardwood balance wood increased from SEK 608 (EUR 53) to SEK 623 (EUR 54).
Decline in logging in Germany - a return to the situation of 10 years ago
According to the German Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), logging volumes in Germany have fallen sharply: in 2024, the volume amounted to 61.2 million cubic meters, which is almost 10 million less than in the previous year. Between 2014 and 2024, nearly 340 million cubic meters of mostly spruce were cut down due to damage caused by the print beetle. As the infestation decreased, the volume of logging declined rapidly.
After peaking in 2020 and 2021, the volume of spruce and conifer harvesting per year fell below 38 million cubic meters last year. The return to pre-crisis logging levels has led to localized log shortages, especially in northern Germany, the western regions and Bavaria. Sawmills are now buying spruce logs from hundreds of kilometers away. Roadside prices have risen to 103-115 euros/m³, which is 5-10 euros more than this year.
Prices for Latvian softwood are on the rise
According to the Central Statistical Office (CSO), the average purchase price for softwood round timber in Latvia increased slightly in the second half of 2024, while prices for hardwood roundwood decreased.
Pine sawlogs with a diameter of up to 14 cm showed the largest growth among conifers, increasing by 10% compared to the first half of the year to EUR 81.4 per cubic meter (excluding VAT). Spruce logs of the same diameter showed similar growth, rising by 10% to €75.8 per cubic meter. Logs with a diameter of 14-18 cm also showed significant growth: prices for spruce and pine increased by 9%, reaching 86.5 and 84.2 euros per cubic meter, respectively. Prices for larger diameter logs increased more modestly: spruce logs with a diameter of more than 26 cm increased by 6%, and pine and spruce logs of 18-26 cm increased by 4%.
Among the hardwood grades, the largest growth was observed for aspen sawn timber with a diameter of more than 24 cm, which increased by 7% to 96 euros per cubic meter. In contrast, category B birch plywood blocks and blocks for containers showed the least growth, each up only 1%.