Analytics, Latvia, Markets and Companies, Woodwork

Among coniferous tree sawlogs the greatest drop was recorded in purchase prices of pine sawlogs with diameter of 18 – 26 cm – 9% or on average 6 EUR/m³ without VAT, and in purchase prices of spruce sawlogs with diameter over 26 cm – 7%, which is 5 EUR/m³ without VAT. Purchase prices of pine sawlogs with diameter of up to 14 cm remained at the level of the previous period, i.e., 48 EUR/m³ without VAT. In turn, in the 1^st half of 2015 purchase prices of spruce sawlogs with diameter of up to 14 cm grew by 7%, reaching 52 EUR/m³without VAT.

Average purchase prices of coniferous tree sawlogs by tree species and timber type, EUR/m3 without VAT

Data source: Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia

In the 1^st half of 2015 as compared to the 1^st half of 2009, when the lowest purchase prices were registered for all types of round timber in Latvia, purchase prices of spruce sawlogs with diameter of up to 14 cm has grown twice, reaching 52 EUR/m³ without VAT. Prices of pine sawlogs with diameter of 14 – 18 cm over the past six years has grown by 84% or by 31 EUR/m³ without VAT (in the 1^st half of 2015 – 67.7 EUR/m³ without VAT), and purchase prices of pine sawlogs with diameter of up 14 cm have increased by 80% or 21 EUR/m³ without VAT (in the 1^st half of 2015 – 48.2 EUR/m³ without VAT).

Average purchase prices of coniferous tree sawlogs by tree species and timber type in the 1st half of 2009, 2012 and 2015, EUR/m3 without VAT

In the 1^st half of 2015 as compared to the 2^nd half of 2014 among deciduous tree sawlogs the greatest drop was recorded in the average purchase price of birch sawlogs with diameter of 18 – 24 cm – 11% (purchase price in the 1^st half of 2015 – 49 EUR/m³ without VAT), while the most rapid growth was recorded in purchase prices of black alder sawlogs with diameter over 24 cm – 6% (in the 1^st half of 2015 – 37 EUR/m³ without VAT). In the 1^st half of 2015 the average purchase price of deciduous tree veneer logs was 36 EUR/m³ without VAT, which is 3% less than in the 2^nd half of 2014.

Purchase prices of deciduous tree sawlogs, veneer logs and packing timber, by tree species and timber type, EUR/m3without VAT

In the 1^st half of 2015 the average purchase price of category A birch veneer logs was 89 EUR/m³ without VAT, which compared to the 2nd half of 2014, has grown by 3% or 2 EUR/m³ without VAT; as compared to the 1^st half of 2014 – growth of 12 EUR/m³ without VAT, and compared to the 1^st half of 2009 – growth of 41 EUR/m³ without VAT. 

Compared to the 1^st half of 2009, in the 1^st half of 2015 growth was recorded in the average purchase price of birch sawlogs with diameter of 18 – 24 cm and of asp sawlogs regardless of the diameter – of 35% or 13 EUR/m³ without VAT. Growth in average purchase price of birch sawlogs with diameter over 24 cm and category B veneer logs accounted for 63% or 25 EUR/m³ without VAT. Among all types of round timber the smallest growth was recorded in purchase prices of black alder sawlogs with diameter of 18-24 cm – 4 EUR/m³ without VAT and with diameter over 24 cm – 6 EUR/m³ without VAT.

More information on round timber purchase prices is available in the CSB database section Forestry.