Last week’s auctions at the Ukrainian Energy Exchange for untreated timber showed the following results:
- the exhibited volume amounted to 25.63 thousand cubic meters;
- 8.89 thousand cubic meters of wood were sold;
- the cost of wood sales amounted to UAH 29.37 million (including VAT);
- forestry enterprises received additional income during the English auction in the amount of UAH 2.61 million (including VAT).
Untreated timber was sold by forestry enterprises from 5 regions of Ukraine. The largest volume was sold in Ivano-Frankivsk region.
The distribution of untreated timber sales was as follows: 51% - round timber, 49% - firewood.
Round timber
During the reporting period, the company sold 4.56 thousand cubic meters of round timber for a total of UAH 23.04 million (including VAT).
The most sold species were pine, alder and oak, where their share in the overall structure was 61.19%, 14.31% and 7.75%, respectively. There was also the sale of such species as beech, fir, red oak, ash, spruce and others.
Firewood
During the reporting period, sales volumes of firewood amounted to 4.33 thousand cubic meters worth UAH 6.33 million (including VAT).
The vast majority of firewood (56%) was sold for non-industrial use, while 44% was sold for industrial use.
Hardwood firewood was in the highest demand, accounting for 31% of total sales.
The graph below shows the structure of firewood sales by grade and species.
Price indices
The largest upward trend among round timber price indices was shown by fir, with a price of UAH 4,466.05 per cubic meter including VAT.
In turn, the maximum decline was observed for oak. The weighted average price index amounted to UAH 16,991.94 per cubic meter including VAT.
Weighted average timber price index, for May 05-09, 2025
| Species | UAH/cubic meter (including VAT) |
|---|---|
| Silver birch | 5 097,56 |
| Forest beech | 3 797,20 |
| Black alder | 5 706,83 |
| Common oak | 16 991,94 |
| Common pine | 4 289,16 |
| European spruce | 3 142,00 |
| White fir | 4 466,05 |
| Common ash | 7 192,82 |
The price index for industrial wood rose the most, reaching UAH 1,818.66 per cubic meter including VAT, up 17% year-on-year.
Among all types of firewood, the cost of the second group has decreased the most, and now amounts to UAH 1,241.00 per cubic meter including VAT, which is 23% less than the previous figure.
Overview of news on the timber market in Europe
Estonian sawmills face pressure due to lower demand across Europe
Market participants reported that timber prices in Estonia showed signs of stabilization in April after several months of decline, driven by low demand on key European export markets and a cautious recovery in domestic construction activity.
Prices for coniferous sawlogs have begun to stabilize, with average prices for pine and spruce logs at the roadside hovering around EUR 65-70 per cubic meter, according to local forestry associations. Prices for birch balance wood remain under pressure, trading at 25-30 euros/m³, amid weak demand from Scandinavian pulp mills and declining interest from China.
Swedish timber buyers expect stable or rising prices in 2025, long-term prospects remain optimistic
According to a new survey, most timber buyers in Sweden expect log prices to remain stable or increase slightly in 2025 as supply constraints and stable demand underpin the market.
According to the survey, about 70% of respondents believe that timber prices will either remain at the current level or increase by up to 5% next year. Only 10% expect prices to fall, with pessimism concentrated in the southern regions. Meanwhile, 5% of buyers, mostly in northern Sweden, expect prices to rise by more than 10%.
Over a five-year horizon, expectations are more diverse. About 45% foresee prices rising by 10-30% compared to today’s prices, while 35% predict a moderate increase of up to 10%. A fifth of respondents expect prices to decrease by more than 10%, although none expect an increase of more than 30%.
Timber prices in Sweden have risen sharply in recent years due to high demand and reduced supply. The largest increases have been recorded in the southern regions of Svealand and Jotaland, while northern Norrland has seen more moderate growth. Over the past year, prices have increased by 26% in Svealand and 22% in Jotaland, compared to 11% in northern Norrland.
German woodworking industry under pressure: trade associations warn of protracted crisis and call for political action
The German woodworking industry is in a steady decline, with key segments reporting significant declines in sales and production. Industry representatives are calling on policymakers to intervene, warning that without a change of course, the sector’s recovery could be delayed until at least 2026.
According to the German Woodworking Industry Association (HDH), the industry’s total sales fell by 7.9% to EUR 37 billion in 2024. Almost all industries were affected, with the woodworking materials sector down 9%, construction-related wood products down 8.6%, and the furniture industry down 7.4%. The sawmilling and wood packaging industries also recorded losses of 6.5% and 5.2%, respectively.
“The drop in performance reflects the combined impact of the construction crisis, over-regulation and weak consumer demand,” said Dr. Danny Onesorge, managing director of HDH. The number of building permits fell sharply in 2024, while employment in the woodworking sector declined by 4.4%. The number of companies with more than 50 employees decreased by 2.8%.