Untreated timber: market overview at UEEX for December 2025
Over the past month, auctions on the Ukrainian Energy Exchange for untreated timber showed the following results:
- the exhibited volume was 327.63 thousand cubic meters;
- 321.81 thousand cubic meters of wood were sold;
- the cost of selling wood was UAH 1.74 billion (including VAT);
- forest agencies received additional income during the English auction in the amount of UAH 645.22 million (including VAT).
The distribution of untreated timber sales was as follows: 61% – round timber, 39% – firewood.
The sale of untreated timber last month took place in Ivano-Frankivsk, Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi and other regions.
Round timber
During the reporting period, 197.19 thousand cubic meters of round timber were sold for a total amount of UAH 1.42 billion (including VAT).
The most sold species were pine, spruce and oak, where their share in the overall structure was 45%, 27.14% and 9.41% respectively. There was also the sale of such species as beech, fir, hornbeam, ash, aspen and others.
Firewood
During the reporting period, the volume of sales of firewood amounted to 124.62 thousand cubic meters for the amount of 320.91 million UAH (including VAT).
The vast majority of firewood (99.8%) was sold for industrial use, while 0.2% was sold for non-industrial use.
Among firewood, pine is the most in demand, accounting for 31% of the total volume of firewood sold.
The graph below shows the structure of sales of firewood by assortment and species.
Price indices
Compared to the previous month, most roundwood indices showed a decrease.
The largest increase in value was noted for pine - its price is currently UAH 5,601.01 including VAT. This is due to the holding of quarterly auctions, which increased demand and increased competition among buyers.
The opposite dynamics was observed for oak. Its cost decreased to 27,720.90 UAH per cubic meter including VAT.
Weighted Average Timber Price Index, December 2025
| Species | UAH/cubic m (including VAT) |
|---|---|
| Silver birch | 6,148.42 |
| Forest beech | 5,666.28 |
| Black alder | 6,618.98 |
| Common oak | 27,720.90 |
| Common pine | 5,601.01 |
| European spruce | 5,225.51 |
| White fir | 5,411.30 |
| Common ash | 11 891.18 |
In the firewood segment, the largest changes were recorded for products for industrial use, the price index of which reached UAH 2,620.96 per cubic meter including VAT.
Instead, wood of the first group showed the most noticeable decrease in price - its cost decreased to UAH 2,200.80 per cubic meter including VAT against the backdrop of reduced demand.
Weighted average price index for firewood, for December 2025
| Assortment | UAH/cubic m (including VAT) |
|---|---|
| Industrial use | 2 620,96 |
| Non-industrial use 1-st group | 2 200,80 |
| Non-industrial use 2-nd group | 1 586,20 |
| Non-industrial use 3-rd group | 887,41 |
Overview of the wood market in Europe
Exports of softwood lumber from the EU to the US: rapid growth in revenues and volumes
Record growth in indicators During the period January-November 2025, exports of softwood lumber from the EU to the US demonstrated impressive dynamics: the total volume of supplies increased by 39% (to 4.38 million m³), and the total value by 56% (to €1.24 billion). The outpacing profit growth is due to a significant increase in the average price — from €252 to €283 per m³, which indicates a favorable situation in the American market and the willingness of buyers to pay a premium price.
Market leaders: Germany and Sweden Germany confidently maintains its status as the main supplier, providing almost half of the total volume (2.14 million m³). However, the biggest leap was made by Sweden, which increased deliveries by 65% and revenue by an incredible 87% (€434 million). Swedish producers were able to raise the average price to €306 per m³, which gave them a 35% market share in terms of value.
Expansion of the Baltic and Central European countries New players are actively establishing themselves in the US market: Latvia more than doubled its export volumes (to 222 thousand m³), taking a share of over 5%. Austria, Finland, Romania and the Czech Republic also demonstrate positive dynamics. Stable high prices for all leading exporters confirm the steady demand from the US for high-quality European wood.
High prices for spruce and pine logs will continue next year
Price targets and market stability The Central European softwood sawlog market enters 2026 with clearly defined "resistance lines". In Germany and Austria, spruce prices have settled at around €140/m³, while pine prices are around €100/m³. Recent contract negotiations for the first half of 2026 confirm that these figures have become the new standard and there are currently no conditions for them to decline.
Change in the structure of the offer The main factor supporting high prices is the depletion of damaged wood stocks (after storms and bark beetle infestations), which in previous years created a surplus of cheap raw materials. Now the market is completely dependent on planned fellings. This has led to a reduction in overall supply and forced processing plants (sawmills) to contract volumes earlier than usual to ensure stable operation during the winter.
Forecast until mid-2026 Experts expect the current price structure to remain unchanged until at least the middle of next year. Despite the price stability, the physical availability of wood in some regions of Central Europe remains limited. Producers and forest owners are preparing for a period when the cost of raw materials will be consistently high, forcing businesses to focus on processing efficiency rather than waiting for a cheaper resource.
Finnish forest industry under pressure: 2025 results and 2026 forecasts
High cost and falling demand In 2025, the Finnish forest sector was caught between record-high wood prices and weak demand for finished products. Log purchase prices remained consistently high, while balkwood prices only started to decline towards the end of the year. Total forest harvests fell by 22% compared to the previous year (to 37.7 million m³).
Active consolidation of the lumber market Despite the construction crisis, the sawmilling segment has shown remarkable dynamics in the area of mergers and acquisitions. Big players such as Stora Enso and Versowood have strengthened their positions. At the same time, capacity modernization has taken place: the Pölkky mill has increased production to 450 thousand m³ per year. This shows that the business believes in the long-term prospects of wooden construction and the bioeconomy, despite the current lull.
Strategic reorientation for 2026 Finland’s industry enters 2026 with cautious realism. Further moves away from traditional paper in favour of sustainable packaging and biomaterials are expected (e.g. Stora Enso’s investment in the Oulu mill and Metsä Group’s lignin projects). A quick recovery is not expected, but a large-scale collapse is not expected either. Strict financial discipline, selective investment and adaptation to the new conditions of high resource costs will be the priorities for the coming year.
Storm in Sweden: millions of cubic meters of forest felled
Scale of damage and loss A severe winter storm has caused significant damage to forests in northern Sweden, with the county of Gävleborg being the worst affected. Preliminary estimates suggest that the volume of fallen timber is several million cubic metres, with financial losses estimated at billions of Swedish kronor. Although smaller in scale than the devastating storm Gudrun in 2005 (75 million m³), the current event will have a significant impact on local markets, as both mature forests and young stands are damaged, disrupting rotation cycles and increasing restoration costs.
Rapid response and risks The main priority now is to urgently harvest and remove the fallen forest before the onset of warm weather. This is necessary to prevent the massive reproduction of bark beetles, which can destroy healthy stands. Logistics are complicated by the winter period, damage to infrastructure and power outages. The Swedish Farmers’ Association (LRF) is calling on the authorities to simplify logging permit procedures to speed up rescue operations and minimize biological losses.
Impact on the timber market Sweden is a key global supplier of softwood lumber (annual harvest 85–90 million m³). In the short term, a regional oversupply is expected, which could put pressure on prices in the disaster area. However, overall export flows are likely to remain stable. The industry’s main focus will be on the quality of salvaged wood (log to stock ratio) and the availability of sufficient machinery for rapid timber harvesting.