Although the war in Ukraine has halted timber imports from Russia, Finland can feel relatively secure. All the timber required by the industry is available in local forests and is generally obtainable on the market, says Marko Mäki-Hakola, Forestry Director at the Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK) in Finland.

“Forest owners should not rush, but rather respond to the increasing demand for timber.”

Last year, nine million cubic metres of timber were imported from Russia. Slightly less than half of this volume was birch wood, along with a couple of million cubic metres of energy wood chips.

“The biggest challenge is the availability of birch fibre, but the industry is capable of partially switching its use to pine. Although birch pulpwood often comes alongside other wood species, there is more available from our forests,” says Kalle Karttunen, Research Manager at MTK.

Timber can be found at an appropriate price

M. Mäki-Hakola sees a silver lining in the gloomy situation, at least from the perspective of forest owners, although he phrases it carefully.

“The rise in prices in the end-product market last year brought record-high results for the forest industry. Unfortunately, the trend in timber prices did not follow the price trend of industrial products. The economic situation of the forest industry is favourable, and it is capable of purchasing timber in Finland at fair prices,” says M. Mäki-Hakola. In other words, local timber is available provided the price is appropriate. There is also no reason for the government to take special measures.