More softwood sawlogs in stock, but less pulpwood

Nyhet | Statistik - 07 May 2024

Stocks of softwood sawlogs on 31 March 2024 were 10 percent higher compared to the same quarter last year, according to the Swedish Forest Agency's inventory survey. By contrast, stocks of pulpwood decreased by 7 percent.

On 31 March 2024, the total volume of wood stocks was 8.3 million cubic metres, which is 3 percent less than at the same time last year.

Timber stocks per assortment:

• Coniferous sawlogs 3.2 million cubic metres (+10%)
• Pulpwood 4.3 million cubic metres (-7%)
• Massaflis 0.7 million cubic metres (-25%)

Most of the pulpwood stocks are softwood pulpwood, which amounted to 3.5 million cubic metres. This is a decrease of 6 percent compared to 31 March 2023. Stocks of hardwood pulpwood amounted to 0.8 million cubic metres, which means that they were 13 percent lower than the same time last year.

Despite the increase compared to last year, stocks of softwood sawlogs were still 10 percent lower than the average for the first quarter of 2019-2023. Stocks of pulp chips and pulpwood were also significantly lower than the average for the past five years.

Regional figures

Stocks of softwood sawlogs were higher compared to the same time last year in all wood balance areas except balance area 3, where stocks were 10 percent lower this year.

Stocks of pulpwood were particularly lower in balance area 4, with 25 percent less in stock this year than at the same time last year.

Explanation

The cubic metre referred to is m³f ub, solid cubic metres without bark.

Wood balance regions (WBR)

1. Västernorrland, Västerbotten, Norrbotten and Jämtland counties (exclusive Härjedalen municipality)
2. Stockholm, Uppsala, Gotland, Västmanland, Dalarna and Gävleborg counties and Härjedalen municipality.
3. Västra Götaland (exclusive Ale, Lerum, Vårgårda, Bollebygd, Tranemo, Lilla Edet, Mark, Svenljunga, Herrljunga, Vänersborg, Trollhättan, Alingsås, Borås and Ulricehamn municipalities), Värmland and Örebro counties and Habo and Mullsjö municipalities.
4. Södermanland, Östergötland, Jönköping (exclusive Habo and Mullsjö municipalities), Kronoberg, Kalmar, Blekinge, Skåne och Halland counties and the municipalities of Ale, Lerum, Vårgårda, Bollebygd, Tranemo, Lilla Edet, Mark, Svenljunga, Herrljunga, Vänersborg, Trollhättan, Alingsås, Borås and Ulricehamn).

The survey is part of the Official Statistics of Sweden.

All results are found in our Statistical database.