Insights from ISC 2025

Europe

Production in 2025: 78 mio m³ of sawn timber (stable, but -10% compared to 2021).

Market conditions: profitability remains weak; Margins under pressure. Round timber prices – especially in Northern Europe – high

Raw material availability: Bottlenecks in spruce in Central Europe; Adaptation planned through greater use of pine

Demand: Total demand –13% compared with 2021, but +2.5% compared with the previous year

Exports: slight increases, but sentiment has cooled since summer

Outlook: no significant improvement until mid-2026; slight recovery not expected until the 2nd half of 2026

United States

Imports from Europe: +19% in the 1st half of 2025 (€620 million)

Tariffs: 10% on European sawn timber – not a serious burden, according to EOS, but potentially changing global trade flows

Domestic market: decline in own production; Overseas imports expected to decline by 1 mio m³ by 2026

Price development: rising prices due to sawmill closures

Forecast: sustained demand, medium-term price increase

MENA region

Importance: most important overseas market for European softwood sawn timber

Product range structure: Focus on lower grades and side boards; growing demand for processed products.

Raw material conversion: More pine sales due to spruce shortage in Europe.

Market character: High adaptability; positive prospects, according to industry representatives.

China

Market development: massive decline in construction activity; 65 to 80 million vacant apartments.

Import structure: Russia covers about 70% of China's sawn timber imports and dictates low price levels

Trade: European exports –37% to €85 million

General conditions: US tariffs on furniture weigh on Chinese furniture industry, falling demand for high-quality sawn timber

Outlook: no short-term recovery expected; Improvement dependent on government economic stimulus programs, not until after 2026 at the earliest

Japan

Demand: declining construction starts; weak housing construction

Currency effect: weak yen makes timber imports more expensive

Market structure: increasing demand for non-residential construction, but limited by labour shortages and low logs

Imports from Europe: –7% to €350 million

Forecast: no short-term trend reversal expected