Analytics, Latvia, Markets and Companies, Woodwork

Average costs of forest regeneration and tending, LVL per ha

Forest tending costs in Latvia on average comprised from LVL 131 to LVL 141 per ha. Forest tending costs include agro-technical tending of forest and tending of young growths. The highest forest tending costs in 2011 were recorded in forests of the 1^st quality* forest land.

Harvesting costs refer to the final felling, where part of the forest is felled completely, and intermediate felling (thinning, conversion cutting, sanitary cutting), where felling is made partly. Each of the felling types include wood preparation, transportation to road and transportation to the purchase place. Total value of the harvesting costs in final felling and intermediate felling are formed by the labour costs, transportation costs, incl., costs of the machinery used. According to the data compiled by the CSB, in 2011 the average harvesting costs per one cubic meter of timber in the final felling constituted LVL 12.12, whereas in intermediate felling – LVL 14.78. In comparison with 2009 and 2010, the average harvesting costs in final felling in 2011 have grown by 36% and 3.5%, respectively, nevertheless they have stayed at the level of 2008.

Harvesting costs, LVL per m3

Compared to 2008 and 2009, the average costs in intermediate felling in 2011 have diminished by 2% and 2.7%, respectively, while in comparison with 2010 - they have increased by 19%.

*1^st forest land quality group includes poor pine forest on wet, pine forest on peat soil.
2^nd forest land quality group includes pine forest, Callunosa mel., Callunosa turf.mel., Vaccinioso-sphagnosa,Myrtilloso-sphagnosa, Myrtilloso politrichosa, Caricoso-phragmitosa, fen, Filipendulosa.

3^rd forest land quality group includes pine forest with spruce understorey, rich deciduous forest, Vacciniosa mel., Vacciniosa turf.mel.

4^th forest land quality group includes Myrtilloso-sphagnosa, spruce forest, rich deciduous forest, Myrtillosa mel., Myrtillosa turf. Mel., Mercurialiosa met., Oxalidosa turf. mel.