Wood products from Sweden in high demand with limited supply

Demand for wood products remains high, but their supply is limited. Despite full production and manufacturing records in March, Swedish sawmills currently have their lowest stock levels for over 20 years, which has put pressure on sawn wood prices. 

“Demand is growing, and so are the prices on the global markets. The wood industry is used to handling sizeable price fluctuations, but the situation at the moment is unusual. On the other hand, looking at the price trend for wood over a longer timeframe, growth has been quite modest. We may be heading for a situation where wood reaches a fairer market value,” says Christian Nielsen, market analyst for the industry organisations’ Swedish Wood and the Swedish Forest Industries Federation. 

Swedish sawmills have been able to keep production going during the pandemic. However, increasing demand for wood products globally has seen stocks at the Swedish sawmills run down, leading to the lowest stock levels for over 20 years. Production is continuing at full throttle and March became the best production month ever for the Swedish sawmill industry.  

The global shortage of wood products is mainly due to lower production in other parts of the world. Several wood product manufacturers that usually have high output, temporarily scaled back their activity in 2020, leading to a major shortfall in the international market. We are continuing to see the consequences of this imbalance. 

“The global shortage of wood products is an undeniable fact, but the Swedish sawmills are still working as hard as they can to meet the existing demand. Their strength shown by largely maintaining deliveries during the critical months when the pandemic struck with full force last year. I am convinced that our members are fully focused right now on delivering wood products to their customers,” says Mathias Fridholm, Director of Swedish Wood.

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For more information:
Mathias Fridholm, Director, Swedish Wood
+46 70 560 62 07, mathias.fridholm@swedishwood.com

Christian Nielsen, Market Analyst Sawmill industry, Swedish Forest Industries and Swedish Wood
+46 72 209 84 30, christian.nielsen@skogsindustrierna.se

Press contact: 
Camilla Carlsson, Head of Communications, Swedish Wood
+46 8 762 79 65, camilla.carlsson@swedishwood.com

Maria Wistedt, Communications and Content Manager, Swedish Wood
+46 8 762 79 66, maria.wistedt@swedishwood.com

Swedish Wood’s aim is to increase the size and value of the market for Swedish wood and wood products in construction, interior design and packaging. Through inspiration, information and education, we promote wood as a competitive, renewable, versatile and natural material. Swedish Wood also lobbies on behalf of its members on key industry and trade issues.

Swedish Wood represents the Swedish sawmill industry and is part of the Swedish Forest Industries Federation. In addition, Swedish Wood represents the Swedish glulam and packaging industries, and collaborates closely with Swedish builders’ merchants and wholesalers of wood products.

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