China slashes Nordic wood imports by 57% as prices continue to climb

Nordic lumber producers are facing soaring raw material costs and rising production costs causing China to lower its purchases due to rising prices. Finland and Sweden are facing significant challenges after the loss of Russian timber supplies due to Western sanctions linked to the Ukraine conflict. As a result, both countries have sought alternative sources, increasing log imports by 25% in 2024 compared to the previous year. Still, the total remains only half the level seen in 2006. The supply gap has triggered a sharp increase in raw material costs. In Q4 2024, wood accounted for nearly 73 ...