Auctions at the Ukrainian Energy Exchange for untreated timber last week showed the following results:

  • Exhibited volume was 57,53 th. c. m;
  • Sold timber for 44,39 th. c. m;
  • Timber sales value was UAH 216,07 mln. (incl. VAT);
  • Forestry agencies received additional income during the English auction in the amount of UAH 87,69 mln. (incl. VAT).

Untreated timber was sold by forestry enterprises from 6 regions of Ukraine. The largest volume was sold in Zhytomyr region.

Distribution of untreated timber sales was as follows: 64% - round timber, 36% - firewood.

Round timber

During the reporting period, the Group sold 28,30 thousand cubic meters of round timber for a total amount of UAH 187,85 mln. (incl. VAT).

Alder, birch and pine were the most popular species sold, with their share in the total structure amounting to 36,97%, 36,20% and 17,08%, respectively. Other species sold included oak, beech, hornbeam, fir, spruce and others.

Firewood

During the reporting period, firewood sales amounted to 16,10 th. c. m. for a total of UAH 28,22 mln. (incl. VAT).

The vast majority of firewood (89%) was sold for industrial use, while 11% was sold for non-industrial use.

Hardwood firewood was in the highest demand, accounting for 64% of total sales.

The graph below shows the structure of firewood sales by grade and species.

Price indices

Birch showed the largest upward trend among roundwood price indices. Currently, its price has risen to UAH 7848,19 per cubic meter including VAT.

In turn, the maximum decline was observed for ash. The weighted average price index amounted to UAH 3080,66 per cubic meter including VAT.

Weighted average timber price index, May 12-16, 2025

BreedUAH/c. m. (incl. VAT)
Silver birch7,848.19
Forest beech3,978.78
Black alder7,407.96
Common oak18,727.95
Common pine4,166.57
European spruce4,511.99
White fir4,875.98
Common ash3 080.66

The price index for non-industrial firewood of the second group increased the most, reaching UAH 1972,20 per c. m. incl. VAT.

Among all types of firewood, the price of industrial firewood decreased the most, and now amounts to UAH 1775,70 per c. m. incl. VAT.

Overview of news on the timber market in Europe

Less timber, more debt in Poland’s woodworking industry

The state of the woodworking industry in Poland is rapidly deteriorating: according to the National Debt Register (KRD), the debts of enterprises in the sector exceeded PLN 100 million (≈ EUR 23 million). The lowest level was recorded in July 2022 - PLN 68 million, but since the beginning of 2025, the debt has been growing steadily.

In addition to financial pressure, the situation is complicated by government plans to restrict access to timber. It is estimated that this could reduce the production of the woodworking, furniture, and paper industries by almost 28 billion zlotys (≈EUR 6,3 billion ) and cause wood prices to rise by 15-20%.

Lower prices and logging restrictions shape the outlook of forest industry of Latvia in 2025

Despite its rich forest resources and effective management, Latvia’s forest sector is operating below its potential due to regulatory restrictions and declining prices.

In 2024, the volume of harvesting in state forests increased to 7,44 million cubic meters (compared to 6,94 million cubic meters in 2023), but the average price of round timber fell from 83,98 to 72,38 EUR per c. m. The cost of wood chips also decreased significantly, by 34%, due to a decline in demand for biomass amid a stabilizing energy market.

Looking ahead, sector faces a combination of cautious stability and long-term uncertainty. Harvesting volumes are expected to remain at around 7 million cubic meters per year until 2025, according to the new medium-term harvesting quota approved by the government. However, a 4% reduction in the maximum allowable harvest by 2030 is likely to further reduce future revenues and dividend flows.

High prices for logs in Finland reduce profits of sawmills

In Finland, log prices have reached levels that many sawmills consider unsustainable, raising questions about the long-term competitiveness of the industry. Forest owners believe that prices reflect market equilibrium, but processors warn of stagnant profitability.

Historically, prices for softwood logs and lumber have moved in synchrony, which was considered a sign of a stable market. In 2021-2022, sawn timber prices rose sharply due to global supply chain disruptions, allowing factories to invest in development. At the same time, log prices grew gradually.

Now both price indices are moving in sync again. Supporters of the increased log prices (up to 90 EUR/m³) consider them economically justified. They also point out that the growth of by-product revenues helps to compensate for the decline in margins in core production.

Declining demand and policy changes lead to a reduction in log imports and prices in China

In January-March 2025, China imported 8,07 million c. m. of logs worth USD 1,35 bln. This is 9% less in volume and 10% less in value compared to the first quarter of 2024. The average price amounted to USD 168/m³ (CIF), down 1,3%.

Imports of coniferous logs amounted to 5,78 million m³ (72% of the total volume), down 7% yoy. Their average price decreased by 5% to USD 127/m³ (CIF).