Estonia, Good for Business, Markets and Companies, Woodwork

RMK generated revenue of 163.5 million euros and profit of 40.7 million euros, reported the company which manages the national forests.

Chairman of the Board of RMK Aigar Kallas said profit growth was caused in particular by the improvement of the quality of the wood. "The volume of timber sold was unchanged from the year earlier, but the share of logs grew to 45%. In 2013, the share of logs in RMK total sales was 40%," said Kallas.

RMK sold in 2014 3.2 million cubic meters of forest material for 151 million euros, plus 140,000 cubic meters of wood chips. Paper wood formed in RMK's total sales 36%, firewood 15% and wood chips 4%. RMK's turnover in 2013 was 155 million and a profit of 31.5 million euros.

RMK’s recreational and protected areas were visited during the year 2014, 1.9 million times. During the year 533 kilometres of hiking trails and teaching trails were built and renovated. In recent years, RMK has developed mainly the two branches of the long hiking trail that pass from one end of Estonia to the other and which connect existing trails and recreation sites. Nearly 70,000 people used the hiking trail’s 375 km Oandu-Ikla and 628 km long length Aegviidu-Ähijärve branches for hiking last year.

Silviculture volumes in 2014 remained at the same level as the previous year. 18.5 million trees were planted in state forests.

RMK owns also the Sagadi Forest Centre, Elistvere Animal Park, Arboretum in Tartu, 70% of Estonian-Finnish joint venture AS Eesti Metsataim and Põlula fish breeding centre. RMK employs over 700 people.