Data compiled by the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) show that in the second half of 2020, compared to the first half of the year, the average purchase price increased slightly for both coniferous and deciduous round timber. The largest increase in the prices was for asp sawlogs in diameter 18–24 cm, while the largest decline was observed in the prices of black alder sawlogs in diameter 18–24 cm.

In the second half of 2020, compare to the first half, the prices of conifer sawlogs increased the most for pine round timber in diameter over 26 cm and spruce round timberin diameter of 18–26 cm (on average by 5 % or 3 EUR/m³), as well as for pine round timber in diameter of 18–26 cm (on average by 4 % or 2 EUR/m³)*. A smaller price increase was registered for spruce sawlogs in diameter over 26 cm (on average by 2 % or 1 EUR/m³). The average purchase price remained unchanged for pine sawlogs in diameter up to 14 cm or 46 EUR/m³. Among conifer sawlogs, the prices decreased the least for spruce sawlogs in diameter up to 14 cm (on average by 1 % or 1 EUR/m³) and spruce sawlogs in diameter 14–18 cm (on average by 3 % or 2 EUR/m³). The sharpest decline in price was for pine logs in diameter of 14–18 cm - by 7 % or on average 4 EUR/m³).

In the first half of 2020, the timber market in Europe was affected by the effects of the insect infestation, the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union and the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Under these conditions, the balance between supply and demand for timber changed, and exports to other countries, mainly to Great Britain, decreased. In the second half of 2020, the supply of round timber exceeded the demand and the prices of round timber increased slightly.

Average purchase prices of coniferous tree sawlogs

(EUR/m³excluding VAT)

	2018		2019		2020
	1^st half	2^nd half	1^st half	2^nd half	1^st half	2^nd half
Pine sawlogs
in Ø under 14 cm	51.9	56.9	60.0	48.6	46.7	46.6
in Ø 14-18 cm	72.1	72.0	74.6	61.4	59.5	55.6
in Ø 18-26 cm	72.6	74.8	73.3	62.8	61.5	63.8
in Ø over 26 cm	76.0	78.6	77.7	67.9	64.2	67.7
Spruce sawlogs
in Ø under 14 cm	54.1	56.8	59.0	47.8	43.0	42.4
in Ø 14-18 cm	72.8	74.7	74.8	65.5	60.2	58.4
in Ø 18-26 cm	74.7	76.5	78.8	69.9	63.6	66.6
in Ø over 26 cm	77.3	81.3	80.7	69.2	66.4	67.5

In the second half of 2020, compared to the first half, among deciduous round timber, the largest price increase was for asp sawlogs in diameter of 18–24 cm – on average by 11 % or 5 EUR/m³. The lowest price increase was for asp sawlogs in diameter over 24 cm (on average by 5 % or 3 EUR/m³), black alder sawlogs in diameter over 24 cm (on average 4 % or 2 EUR/m³) and birch sawlogs in diameter over 18-24 cm (on average 3 % or 2 EUR/m³). An average purchase prices remained unchanged for category B birch veneer logs - 69 EUR/m³ and for packing timber - 37 EUR/m³. Among deciduous sawlogs, there was the sharpest decline in the prices of black alder sawlogs in diameter over 24 cm (by 13 % or on average 4 EUR/m³) and category A veneer logs (by 9 % or on average 8 EUR/m³). Purchase prices decreased the least for birch sawlogs in diameter over 24 cm - on average by 4 % or 3 EUR/m³.

Average purchase prices of deciduous tree sawlogs, veneer logs and packing timber

(EUR/m³ excluding VAT)

	2018		2019		2020
	1^st half	2^nd half	1st half	2^nd half	1^st half	2^nd half
Birch sawlogs
in Ø 18-24 cm	61.4	62.5	51.2	51.6	47.7	49.3
in Ø over 24 cm	83.1	78.0	65.7	67.4	71.0	68.4
Black alder sawlogs
in Ø 18-24 cm	41.3	39.2	37.5	26.1	34.0	30.1
in Ø over 24 cm	51.4	46.1	49.3	44.5	45.1	47.0
Asp sawlogs
in Ø 18-24 cm	38.9	43.9	43.3	42.0	42.1	47.4
in Ø over 24 cm	52.1	50.8	53.8	51.5	54.5	57.6
Birch veneer logs
Category A	110.2	105.6	102.4	96.3	99.9	91.4
Category B	70.9	68.6	75.8	66.6	69.1	69.2
Packing timber	42.7	44.6	42.6	38.4	37.0	37.2

In the second half of 2020, compared to the second half of 2019, when due to the Covid-19 pandemic an economic downturn was experienced in Europe and elsewhere in the world and competition in timber export markets intensified, purchase prices of coniferous timber increased only for pine sawlogs in diameter of 18–26 cm (on average by 2 % or 1 EUR/m³). The average purchase price remained unchanged for pine sawlogs in diameter over 26 cm – 68 EUR/m³. For other pine sawlogs, purchase prices decreased between 4 % and 10 %. Among coniferous round timber, the largest price decrease was registered for spruce sawlogs in diameter up to 14 cm (on average by 13 % or 5 EUR/m³) and spruce sawlogs in diameter 14–18 cm (on average by 12 % or 7 EUR/m³). For other spruce sawlogs, purchase prices decreased between 2 % and 5 %.

During this period, the largest increase in the purchase prices of deciduous timber was for black alder sawlogs in diameter 18–24 cm – by 13 % or on average 4 EUR/m³. For asp sawlogs, purchase prices increased between 10 % and 11 %. A minor price increase was for category B veneer logs and black alder sawlogs in diameter over 24 cm – on average by 3 EUR/m³, the least price increase was for birch sawlogs in diameter over 24 cm – by 1 % or on average 1 EUR/m³. The least decrease in purchase prices was for deciduous packing timber (on average by 3 % or 1 EUR/m³), while the largest price decrease was for birch logs in diameter 18-24 cm and category A veneer logs – on average by 5 %.

* All prices of timber are indicated excluding value added tax (VAT).

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