As of the last week, untreated timber sales results at UEEX showed the following results:
- Exhibited volume was 11,85 th. c. m;
- Sold timber for 6,84 th. c. m;
- Timber sales value was UAH 25,63 mln. (incl. VAT);
- Forestry obtained additional income while trades on English auction for the amount of UAH 2,89 mln. (incl. VAT).
Untreated timber sales were made by forestry from 5 regions of Ukraine. The most were sold at Zhytomyr region.
Sales distribution of untreated timber was as follows: 54% – round timber, 46% – firewood.
Round timber
For the reporting period 3,68 th. c.m. of round timber for the total amount of UAH 19,75 mln. (incl. VAT) were sold.
The largest sales were of pine, oak, and spruce, which accounted for 49,98%, 24,19%, and 10,85% of total sales, respectively. Other species sold included alder, birch, aspen, fir, red oak, and others.
On average, the increase from the starting price at English auctions was 10%. Considering that the auction step is 1%, the highest average was for birch – 84, fir – 83, and alder – 67.
Firewood
During the reporting period, the volume of firewood sales amounted to 3,16 thousand cubic meters worth UAH 5,88 million (incl. VAT).
The vast majority of firewood (82%) was sold for industrial use, while 18% was sold for non-industrial use.
Among firewood, birch wood and softwood were in highest demand, accounting for 27% and 23% of sales, respectively.
The chart below shows the structure of firewood sales by assortment and species.
Price indexes
The most significant increase in the price index for round timber was recorded for fir, the cost of which reached 5449,59 UAH/cubic meter including VAT.
On the other hand, the largest decrease was observed for oak — the weighted average price was 17196,77 UAH/cubic meter including VAT.
Index of weighted average prices for timber, for August 11-15, 2025
| Species | UAH/cubic m. (including VAT) |
|---|---|
| Silver birch | 6,982.40 |
| Forest beech | 3,564.30 |
| Black alder | 5,387.48 |
| Common oak | 17,196.77 |
| Common pine | 4,093.67 |
| European spruce | 4,845.77 |
| White fir | 5,449.59 |
| Common ash | 7 988.50 |
The price index for non-industrial firewood in Group 3 showed the highest growth, reaching 1635,00 UAH/cubic meter including VAT.
At the same time, among all types of firewood, the cost of Group 2 products remained stable compared to last week and amounted to UAH 990,00/cubic meter including VAT.
Overview of news on the timber market in Europe
Trade between the EU and the US: New tariffs come into force, softwood lumber exempt from trade until November
On August 7, 2025, the US imposed new import duties on most of its trading partners, including the European Union. This was a result of President Donald Trump’s July 31 executive order imposing a flat 15% tariff on most goods from the EU, from cars to electronics. Lumber remains an exception. Until the US completes its Section 232 investigation, imports of softwood lumber from the EU are exempt from duties — a zero rate applies, as in the most-favored-nation regime. A final decision is expected by the end of November.
Engineered wood is currently subject to a 10% duty, which may increase to 15%. Other wood products are not yet subject to duties pending the completion of the investigation, which runs until November 26.
The political agreement between Presidents Trump and von der Leyen on July 27 provides for a 15% tariff on most goods, while strategic products (aviation, certain chemicals, medicines, chips, critical raw materials) remain duty-free. The 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum remain in place, and a new quota system is planned. A separate point in the agreement concerns energy: the EU will increase imports of American LNG, oil, and nuclear fuel, while the US will supply AI chips to support European production lines.
Weather could lead to higher timber prices in Austria
In recent years, timber prices in Austria have risen sharply, but the current level still does not compensate for inflation losses, according to the Forestry Association. Industry representatives hope for price increases this summer, given the favorable situation with minor forest damage.
Currently, the cost of high-quality timber is around EUR 110–120 per cubic metre (excl. VAT). According to Thomas Olz, head of the Forestry Association, the market remains unstable: excessively high prices make it difficult to access forestry services, while excessively low prices make forestry unprofitable for forest owners.
Despite inflation exceeding 20% over the past three years, timber prices have not risen proportionally. Olts notes that the market reacts more to natural fluctuations than to inflation, and periodically shows a decline in value.
This summer, with minimal bark beetle damage to forests and no serious damage from wildlife, there are prerequisites for market strengthening. According to experts, the limited supply of damaged wood may push prices up, especially since demand for high-quality wood remains consistently high.
“We hope that we will be able to achieve this growth,” said Olz, noting that the desired target is a price level of EUR 140 per cubic meter.