Latest data of the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) show that, compared to the 1^st half of 2017, in the 2^nd half of the year the average purchase prices of round timber in Latvia increased. Within the coniferous tree sector, the greatest rise was observed in purchase prices of pine sawlogs in diameter under 14 cm, while within deciduous tree sector – in purchase prices of birch veneer logs of category A.

In the 2^nd half of 2017, compared to the 1^st half, the most notable rise within the coniferous tree sector was observed in purchase prices of pine sawlogs in diameter under 14 cm (on average of 23 % or 9 EUR/m³)* and in diameter above 26 cm (8 % or 5 EUR/m³). Lower rise was recorded in purchase prices of spruce sawlogs in diameter above 26 cm (on average of 6 % or 4 EUR/m³), in diameter under 14 cm (on average 5 % or 2 EUR/m³), and in diameter 18–26 cm (5 % or 3 EUR/m³). The average purchase prices of spruce sawlogs in diameter 14–18 cm did not change and comprised 67 EUR/m³.

Average purchase prices of coniferous tree sawlogs
(EUR/m³, excluding VAT)

	1^st half of 2015	2^nd half of 2015	1^st half of 2016	2^nd half of 2016	1^st half of 2017	2^nd half of 2017
Pine sawlogs
in Ø under 14 cm	48.3	46.1	46.1	43.1	37.8	46.4
in Ø14–18 cm	67.8	63.9	60.3	56.9	59.9	63.7
in Ø 18–26 cm	66.1	64.6	62.8	61.5	61.3	65.3
in Ø over 26 cm	71.9	69.2	64.7	64.5	63.8	68.6
Spruce sawlogs
in Ø under 14 cm	51.7	46.5	56.4	56.2	45.3	47.4
in Ø 14-18 cm	67.3	65.9	59.3	61.5	66.4	66.5
in Ø 18–26 cm	70.9	66.4	66.9	66.5	66.7	70.1
in Ø over 26 cm	68.9	67.2	67.5	67.4	67.7	72.0

Compared to the 1^st half, in the 2^nd half of 2017 the most notable rise within the coniferous tree sector was observed in purchase prices of black alder sawlogs in diameter over 24 cm (of 11 % or 5 EUR/m³) and asp sawlogs in diameter 18–24 cm (10 % or 3 EUR/m³). Smaller increase was observed in purchase prices of birch sawlogs in diameter 18–24 cm (of 5 % or 2 EUR/m³) and asp sawlogs in diameter over 24 cm (4 % or 2 EUR/m³). Slight reduction was recorded in purchase prices of birch sawlogs in diameter over 24 cm (of 1 % or 1 EUR/m³) and black alder sawlogs in diameter over 24 cm (1 % or 0.4 EUR/m³).

In the 2^nd half of 2017, compared to the 1^st half of the year, the greatest increase among deciduous trees was registered in the average purchase prices of birch veneer logs of category A (of 16 % or 15 EUR/m³), whereas the largest decline was observed in purchase prices of birch veneer logs of category B (of 3 % or 2 EUR/m³). The average purchase prices of deciduous tree packing timber went up by 7 % or 2 EUR/m³.

Rise in prices of round timber of all assortments might be related to the rainy summer and autumn of 2017 when weather conditions hindered logging and transportation of sawlogs from forest. This resulted in difficulties of logging enterprises to fulfil their contractual obligations to deliver the timber. The high demand for raw materials by timber processing enterprises in local and global timber market contributed to the round timber purchase price increase in Latvia.

Purchase prices of deciduous tree sawlogs, veneer logs and packing timber
(EUR/m³, excluding VAT)

	1^st half of 2015	2^nd half of 2015	1^st half of 2016	2^nd half of 2016	1^st half of 2017	2^nd half of 2017
Birch sawlogs
in Ø 18–24 cm	49.4	49.3	46.5	43.1	45.3	47.5
in Ø over 24 cm	62.5	62.9	62.2	67.5	66.9	66.2
Black alder sawlogs
in Ø 18–24 cm	37.0	37.8	33.5	33.7	33.6	33.2
in Ø over 24 cm	44.3	42.3	35.5	38.5	41.5	46.1
Asp sawlogs
in Ø 18–24 cm	34.4	36.0	36.0	34.6	32.9	36.2
in Ø over 24 cm	43.9	42.8	42.5	42.1	43.8	45.4
Birch veneer logs
category A	88.7	89.2	101.0	93.5	99.5	115.0
category B	64.4	60.5	58.4	60.3	61.2	59.1
Packing timber	35.9	31.4	31.5	33.3	33.8	36.0

In the 2^nd half of 2017, compared to the 1^st half of 2009, when due to the global financial crisis timber purchase prices reached the lowest level, the greatest increase among coniferous trees was recorded in the average purchase prices of spruce sawlogs in diameter under 14 cm (on average of 89 % or 22 EUR/m³), compared to the rise in average purchase prices of other spruce sawlogs which varied between 66 % and 70 %. Purchase prices of pine sawlogs grew by 66–73 %.

Over the last eight years, within deciduous trees sector the average purchase prices of birch sawlogs in diameter over 24 cm increased on average by 74 % or 28 EUR/m³. The greatest rise was observed in prices of veneer logs of category A – on average of 143 % or 68 EUR/m³, compared to 49 % or 19 EUR/m³ increase in prices of veneer logs of category B.

Compared to the 1^st half of 2009, in the 2^nd half of 2017 the average purchase prices of deciduous tree packing timber went up by 63 % or 14 EUR/m³. Purchase prices of asp sawlogs grew by 44–46 %. The smallest increase in deciduous tree sector was observed in average purchase prices of black alder sawlogs in diameter over 24 cm (on average of 19 % or 7 EUR/m³), while purchase prices of black alder sawlogs in diameter 18–24 cm did not change (constituting 33 EUR/m³).

* All average purchase prices of sawlogs are indicated excluding value added tax (VAT).

Media requests:
Communication Section
E-mail: media@csb.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366621, +371 27880666

More information on data:
Ilva Graudiņa
Environment and Energy Statistics Section
E-mail: Ilva.Graudina@csb.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366744

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