Hello,
Sawlogs usually get the attention. Thinnings, pulpwood and sawmill leftovers need buyers too. This week brought news for those lower grades. In Germany, a wood-to-chemicals plant had its official opening. In Austria, industrial wood is in demand.
And at the end, a first look at what I'm building next.
Here's what's moving European forestry this week:
One question for you
What's the one forest-market question your team must answer before 2027 budgets close?
Hit reply with one line. I read every answer and never name who asked.
Want the answer for your own business? Add "briefing" to your reply, and I'll send a one-page outline.
🔍 The Big Story
🇩🇪 🇦🇹 The bottom of the log pile is finding buyers
What happened
On 15 October, UPM officially opened its biorefinery in Leuna, eastern Germany. It turns beech wood into chemicals. The plant is not brand new to the market. UPM started producing and selling industrial sugars there in December 2025. It is still ramping up.
Capacity at full output: 220,000 tonnes a year. UPM calls it the largest facility of its kind in the world.
Investment: €1,370 million, UPM says.
Products: industrial sugars, lignin and lignin-based chemicals. Lignin is the natural glue between wood fibres. UPM names uses in clothing, packaging, cosmetics, building materials and tyres.
UPM says enzyme processing and lignin chemicals now run in stable operation.
Where the wood comes from
UPM says the plant runs on beech from thinnings, plus sawmill residues. The wood comes from within about 200 km.
The German news agency dpa added detail on 15 October:
At full output, the plant needs about 500,000 m³ of solid wood a year.
UPM aims for full production in 2027.
UPM says it uses certified wood that would otherwise mostly be burned.
Harald Dialer, a UPM vice president, told dpa: "Es wird nicht gerodet." In English: "No forest is cleared."
Meanwhile, in the market
Austria. On 16 October, the Chamber of Agriculture (LK) published its October timber market report.
Softwood sawlogs: demand is subdued and prices are somewhat under pressure. Log yards are mostly well stocked. Some delivery quotas have appeared in Lower Austria and Styria.
Industrial roundwood: demand stays lively. LK gives two reasons. Sawmills make much less sawn timber. And import options have shrunk.
Grinding wood (for mechanical pulp): demand is stronger again.
Beech fibrewood: normal demand, stable prices.
LK blames weak construction, now in its eighth year of recession. It also names foreign markets lost to armed conflicts, and uncertain US trade policy.
Germany. On 14 October, Destatis, the federal statistics office, published its August roundwood price index. It covers wood sold by state forests, excluding VAT.
All roundwood: 130.3 (2015 = 100). Up 0.8% on July and 12.9% on a year earlier.
Industrial wood: up 1.9% on July.
Sawlogs: up 0.5% on July.
The two monthly changes are my calculation from Destatis index levels.
What the numbers do not say
Over a full year, sawlogs still rose more. Destatis shows +14.7% for sawlogs and +9.3% for industrial wood.
Leuna is still ramping up. UPM aims for full output in 2027, dpa reports.
The German index covers state forests only. And one month is not a trend.
Why this matters
Thinning is how good sawlogs get grown. The wood that comes out early needs a buyer. Pulp, panel and energy plants have long bought it. Now a chemicals plant buys it too.
My read, and it is a read rather than a finding: The bottom of the log pile now has one more kind of buyer. More buyers can help anyone who pays for thinning. Whether it lifts prices for forest owners is not yet known.
What this means for you
If you own beech within about 200 km of Leuna: My advice: ask your wood buyer which grades Leuna takes. Then plan your next thinnings.
If you sell softwood in Austria: Sawlog yards are well stocked, but industrial and grinding wood sell. My advice: ask your buyer which assortments, or log grades, they want before you cut.
If you invest: Look at the whole log pile, not only sawlog prices. Ask what share of revenue comes from low-grade wood. (I can help you read those numbers, see below.)
If you speak for forestry: A chemicals plant now runs on thinnings and sawmill leftovers. Use that when people ask what wood is good for. Sources: UPM — From wood to chemicals: UPM inaugurates pioneering biorefinery in Germany (15 Oct 2026) | UPM — UPM unlocks new bio-based markets as Leuna biorefinery produces its first commercial product (19 Dec 2025) | Volksstimme / dpa — Wie aus Buchenholz Rohstoff für Reifen und Kleidung wird (15 Oct 2026, German) | LK Österreich — Holzmarktbericht Oktober 2026 (16 Oct 2026, German) | Destatis — Erzeugerpreise für Holz aus dem Staatsforst (14 Oct 2026, German)
📊 Quick Hits
1. 🇳🇴 Norway's harvest held steady. Prices hit a two-year low.
On 14 October, Norway's Agriculture Agency (Landbruksdirektoratet) published third-quarter figures. Through September, Norway harvested 10.45 million m³ in 2026. That is 0.14 million m³ more than a year earlier.
September prices, in Norwegian kroner per m³, with the change since June:
Spruce sawlogs: 849 (−3.5%)
Pine sawlogs: 666 (−6.2%)
Spruce pulpwood: 435 (−5.8%)
Pine pulpwood: 402 (−8.4%)
The agency says average prices are the lowest in two years.
Statistics Norway (SSB) published its official quarterly figures on 21 October. In the third quarter, 2.86 million m³ were harvested for sale. That is 0.3% less than a year earlier. The average price was NOK 640 per m³, down 26% on a year earlier.
Why it matters: Norway exports a lot of roundwood. SSB data show 2025 exports of about 2.8 million m³ of spruce and pine sawlogs. Spruce and pine pulpwood exports were about 2.3 million m³.
The context: From June to September, pulpwood fell further than sawlogs here. German state forests saw the opposite from July to August. Different markets and months, so read it as a contrast, not a trend.
The takeaway: My advice: check the price basis before you compare Norwegian averages with your own. Roadside prices and stumpage, the price for standing trees, are not the same. Source: Landbruksdirektoratet via NTB — Tømmerhogsten på samme nivå som 2025 (14 Oct 2026, Norwegian) | SSB — Skogavvirkning for salg, 3rd quarter 2026 (21 Oct 2026, Norwegian)
2. 🌍 Forest carbon in company climate reports: the GHG Protocol wants input
The GHG Protocol writes standards many companies use to report greenhouse gases. In January 2026, it published its Land Sector and Removals Standard. Forest carbon accounting was left out.
Its Independent Standards Board found neither proposal developed enough. So it asked for input. Its request for information opened in June. It closes on 1 February 2027.
The two proposals:
Activity-Based Accounting: models the carbon-stock effects of harvesting and plantations over 30 years.
Managed Land Proxy Plus: counts yearly net carbon stock change over a wider area. It adds a "forest impact statement".
Why it matters: Until then, the standard has no complete rules for forest carbon. The chosen method will decide how harvesting shows up in company climate reports.
The context: Input runs through an online survey on the GHG Protocol website.
The takeaway: My advice: answer it, or make sure your association does. Few people know harvest cycles better than forest owners. Source: GHG Protocol — Forest carbon accounting request for information: what you need to know (30 Jun 2026) | GHG Protocol — Forest Carbon Accounting Process FAQ (1 Oct 2026, PDF)
3. 🇸🇪 Thinning by drone: a Swedish simulation points to more sawlogs
On 14 October, Skogforsk published a study by Lars Fridh. Skogforsk is the Forestry Research Institute of Sweden. The study combines a literature review, map analysis and a Heureka forest-planning simulation. There was no field trial.
In the model, drones thin lightly about 2.5 times, taking 5–20% each time. No strip roads are needed. The model allows trees up to about 200 kg. Conventional thinning in the comparison removes 30–45%, with strip roads.
Net volume production: +5.6%
Net sawlog production over the rotation: +9.5%
Map analysis found about 570,000 ha of steep forest that is not formally protected. It holds about 94 million m³ of standing stem volume. Skogforsk calls this a geographic potential only.
Rotation lengths differed between the scenarios. Adjusted for that, yearly net sawlog production was 4.2% higher. The gain in total volume was small.
Why it matters: Steep ground is hard for forest machines. Drones could thin it without strip roads, if field trials confirm the model.
The context: Skogforsk calls the results "lovande men fortfarande indikativa". That means promising but still indicative. The next step is long-term field trials.
The takeaway: This is a model, not a field result. My advice: wait for the field trials before you plan around drones. Source: Skogforsk — Drönare kan förändra hur vi gallrar skogen (14 Oct 2026, Swedish)
📅 The Weeks Ahead
Sun 18 – Fri 30 October: COP17 Biodiversity — Yerevan, Armenia
Tue–Fri 20–23 October: SICAM — Pordenone
Today, Thu 22 October: US Softwood Lumber Board rule takes effect for net-size lumber imports. See #125 | UK Forestry Statistics 2026 (Forest Research), 09:30 UK time
Fri 23 October: SCA third-quarter report | FSC consultation on an interpretation of FSC-PRO-60-006b V2-0 closes
Tue 27 October: Commission EUDR Information System training for micro and small primary operators, 14:00 CET
Wed–Thu 28–29 October: International Softwood Conference — Malahide, Dublin (sold out)
Thu 29 October: Weyerhaeuser third-quarter results
Fri 30 October: Stora Enso third-quarter report
Sat 31 October: UPM's target date for completing its plywood demerger into WISA Group
Mon 2 November: Biometria's VIOL starts rejecting integration calls without version information (Sweden) | WISA shares expected to start trading in Helsinki, on or about this date
Tue 3 November: Bergslagets Skogar Capital Markets Day — Stockholm | Commission EUDR Information System training for upstream operators, 14:00 CET. Register here
Wed 4 November: TDUK Global Market Conference — London
Thu–Fri 5–6 November: 🌳 11th International Hardwood Conference — Antwerp
Mon–Thu 9–12 November: ITTC 62 — Yokohama (ITTO)
Tue 10 November: BiodivFuture pre-proposals due, 12:00 CET (Biodiversa+)
Tue–Fri 10–13 November: FIMMA + Maderalia — Valencia
Wed–Thu 11–12 November: Puupäivä — Helsinki (Puuinfo)
Wed–Thu 18–19 November: German Timber Congress 2026 (DeSH) — Wiesbaden
Wed 25 November: Forest Bioeconomy Investment Accelerator (FBIA) 2026 final event — EIB, Brussels (by invitation)
Fri 27 November: Timber and Circular Economy CPD — online and free (PEFC via TDUK)
Mon 30 November: Södra's temporary birch premium window closes. See #126
Tue 1 December: SMURF Carbon Standard consultation closes, 17:00 CET
Wed 2 December: FOREST Partnership first joint call: pre-proposals due, 13:00 CET (up to €40 million)
Wed 9 December: 📌 European Commission deadline for a decision on the UPM/Sappi joint venture (Case M.12270). See #128
Wed 30 December: EUDR applies to large and medium operators, and to micro and small operators already covered by the EU Timber Regulation
Mon 1 February 2027: GHG Protocol request for information on forest carbon accounting closes. See Quick Hit 2
Wed 30 June 2027: EUDR applies to the remaining micro and small operators
💡 One Thing to Try This Week
Shortlist your EUDR traceability software with a free, vendor-neutral tool.
On 15 October, Preferred by Nature launched the full version of its Traceability Tools Navigator. It is free. It compares traceability, due diligence, risk and map-based tools. You can filter by tool type, commodity, use case and features. Timber is one of the commodities.
Profiles show what vendors say about their own tools. Where Preferred by Nature has checked a claim, it is marked as verified.
The site's terms are clear. A listing is not an endorsement or a certification. The site does not guarantee accuracy, performance, legality or compliance.
Open the Traceability Tools Navigator.
Filter by commodity (timber), use case and tool type.
Switch to the verified view. It shows only the information Preferred by Nature has checked.
Pick two or three. Ask each vendor for a demo with your own supplier data.
Write down what each tool cannot do. Your own checks must cover that gap.
Tobias Stäuble leads traceability at Preferred by Nature. He said: "Tool users and stakeholders need practical guidance, not more confusion." Both EUDR application dates are in the Weeks Ahead above. Source: Preferred by Nature — launch of the Traceability Tools Navigator (15 Oct 2026) | Traceability Tools Navigator
🧰 Housekeeping: Fridays, and what I'm building
A quick note on Fridays. ForestryBrief Professional has been quiet for a few weeks. I have a backlog of Professional issues, and they will come.
Right now, my time goes into one project: the ForestryBrief Dashboard. It will be one place for the forest market data you need. Every figure shows its source and date.
Why? In a reader survey earlier this year, finding reliable market data and prices was the top challenge. Half of those who answered named it.
Remember the Norway takeaway above? Check the price basis. The Dashboard puts it next to every number.
It starts with timber prices from Finland and Norway. But it will not be just prices. Some of what is on the list:
More countries
Forest news and EUDR deadlines in one place
Price alerts by email
A tool to estimate what your timber is worth
Fire and climate risk maps
It is not open yet. Your answers will help decide what comes first.
Would you use it? Hit reply with the word "dashboard". Add what you would want to see in it. I'll tell you first when it opens.
📖 The Forestry Communication Playbook
"Why are you cutting those trees?"
A neighbour may ask when a thinning starts. Or a walker, or a local reporter. The calm answer explains thinning. It helps the trees that stay grow better. And the wood that comes out has buyers. Saying that in one breath takes practice.
Part 1 covers the questions that arrive without warning.
📗 The Forest-Investment Dictionary
A forest is more than its best logs.
Investors often look at sawlog prices first. In August, industrial wood rose faster than sawlogs in German state forests. Reading a forest means reading every grade.
I wrote the Forest-Investment Dictionary with Danish forest economist Anders Tærø Nielsen. It has 151 pages, 11 chapters, 14 printable tools, and 3 calculators. Investors learn to read a forest. Foresters learn to read a term sheet.
When the market turns, the people who can read the numbers make the better calls. The price is €99. Get yours below.
📘 The Organization — Playbook Part 3
When prices move, members ask questions. Someone has to answer.
Part 3 is about who in your organisation does that. And whether they have the time. It has 165 pages, 10 chapters, 10 printable tools, and a survey. The price is €149.
Almost nobody in European forestry publishes what communication costs. The survey inside starts the count. The price is €149. Get yours below.
🤝 ForestryBriefing
The brief is free. The briefing is not.
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Until Tuesday!
Wish you all the best: Peter
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