The trade of energy wood in April-June period of this year was reduced by 50 percent compared to the stipulated period in the previous year, according to the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke).
A total of 1.2 million cubic meters of energy wood was recorded in trade statistics during the second quarter of the year. This volume was half of that in the same period last year and one quarter lower than the average for the previous five years.
In standing sales, the average price of logging residues rose by 15 percent from the previous quarter to over 16 euros per cubic meter, while the average price of delimbed stems fell by eight percent to just under 23 euros.
In delivery sales, these prices remained unchanged and were approximately twice as high as those in standing sales.
During the second quarter, two-thirds of the energy wood traded consisted of logging residues. The nationwide average standing sale price for logging residues was slightly over 16 euros per cubic meter, while the delivery sale price was 31 euros.
Compared to the previous quarter, the real standing sale price increased by 15 percent, whereas the delivery price decreased by two percent.
Delimbed stems accounted for one quarter of the total trade volume. Its standing sale price fell by eight percent to just under 23 euros per cubic meter, while the delivery sale price remained unchanged at approximately 46 euros.
Purchases during January–June also declined compared to previous years.
The total volume was two-fifths lower than last year, as trade in logging residues fell by nearly 40 percent and purchases of delimbed energy wood dropped by one-third. Compared to the five-year average, the total volume of purchased energy wood decreased by six percent. The volume of logging residues remained at previous years’ levels, but trade in delimbed stems contracted by nearly one quarter.
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
