Untreated timber: market overview at UEEX for May 26 - 30, 2025

As of the last week, untreated timber auctions at UEEX showed as follows:

• Exhibited volume was 262,26 th. c. m;
• Sold timber 238,56 th. c. m;
• Timber sales value UAH 959,68 mln. (incl. VAT);
• Forest agencies obtained additional income on trades at English auction for the amount of UAH 213,39 mln. (incl. VAT).

Untreated timber was sold by forestry enterprises from 7 regions of Ukraine. The largest volume was sold in Kyiv region.

Distribution of untreated timber sales was as follows: 57% - round timber, 43% - firewood.

Round timber

During the reporting period, 136,10 thousand cubic meters of roundwood for a total amount of UAH 765,60 million (including VAT) were sold.

Pine, oak and spruce were the most popular species sold, with their share in the total structure amounts to 84,32%, 8,09% and 3,30%, respectively. We also sold ash, aspen, linden, alder, birch and other species.

Firewood

During the reporting period, the volume of firewood sales amounted to 102,45 thousand cubic meters for the amount of UAH 194,08 million (including VAT).

The vast majority of firewood (50,4%) was sold for industrial use, while 49,6% was sold for non-industrial use.

Among firewood, pine firewood was in the highest demand, accounting for 52% of total sales.

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

Price index

Ash showed the largest upward trend among roundwood price indices, with a price of UAH 6884,01 per cubic meter including VAT.

In turn, the maximum decline was observed for fir. The weighted average price index amounted to UAH 3755,77 per cubic meter including VAT, which is 23% less than last week.

Weighted average price index for firewood, as of 26-30 May, 2025

The price index for non-industrial firewood of the third group increased the most, reaching UAH 1626,44 per cubic meter including VAT.

Among all types of firewood, the price of industrial firewood decreased the most, and now stands at UAH 1940,37 per cubic meter including VAT.

Overview of news on the timber market in Europe

Swedish sawmills prepare for a weak second six months as margins remain low despite steady demand

Swedish sawmills are entering the second half of 2025 with caution as sharp rises in log prices and a generally weakening global market weigh on profitability, despite stable demand in Europe and a strong start to the year. Industry sources note that the optimism that arose after better-than-expected first-quarter results and spring price increases is gradually fading. Sawmills are cautious about the outlook, pointing to high raw material costs and limited room for further price increases. The rise in log prices has hit profitability hard, and while demand in European markets remains stable, it is not enough to offset the economic challenges.

China cuts timber imports from Northern Europe by 57% due to rising prices

Lumber producers in Scandinavia have faced significant increases in raw material costs and overall expenses, which has led to a decline in interest from China due to high prices. After the loss of timber imports from the aggressor country due to sanctions imposed as a result of the war in Ukraine, Finland and Sweden were forced to look for alternative sources of supply, which led to a 25% increase in log imports in 2024. Nevertheless, total imports remain at a level that is half that of 2006.

Limited supply has led to a price spike: in the fourth quarter of 2024, wood accounted for up to 73% of production costs in Finland and 64% in Sweden. In Finland, softwood prices have increased by 51% since 2021 and hardwood prices by 54%, while in Sweden the price increase reached 30-40%. As a result, timber exports to China have declined: from Finland - by 57% in volume and 54% in value, and from Sweden - by 23% and 18%, respectively, despite a slight increase in average prices (by 6-8%). Red pine and scots pine sawn timber rose the most, by more than 11%, while spruce and fir sawn timber added 4% to 7,6%.