Hello,
Finland's forests are quiet. Too quiet.
Industrial roundwood harvest fell to 60.1 million cubic meters in 2025. That's 3% less than last year. Energy wood purchases crashed even harder. Down 45%.
The numbers show a market that isn't working. Mills aren't buying. Forest owners aren't selling. Both sides wait for better conditions.
This matters beyond Finland. Nordic markets often signal where European forestry is heading. Right now, that direction is down.
Here's what's moving European forestry this week:
🔍 The Big Story
Finland's Forest Economy Contracts – Roundwood -3%, Energy Wood -45%
Finland's timber market finished 2025 weaker than expected. Industrial roundwood harvest reached 60.1 million cubic meters. That's down 3% from 2024.
The energy wood collapse: Purchases of energy wood fell 45% year-over-year. This is the sharpest decline in years. Mild winters reduced heating demand. Lower electricity prices made biomass less competitive.
What's happening: Finnish mills face the same problem as last year. High stumpage prices meet weak lumber demand. The math doesn't work. Mills buy less because they can't sell profitably.
The forest owner dilemma: Prices remain elevated. But buyers aren't showing up. Selling now means accepting lower volumes. Waiting risks prices falling further. Neither choice feels good.
Regional breakdown: The decline wasn't uniform across Finland. Some regions saw steeper drops than others. But the national trend is clear. Activity slowed everywhere.
The pulp angle: Fiber demand stayed relatively stable. But sawlog purchases drove most of the decline. Construction weakness in Europe means less need for Finnish lumber.
Comparison to history: Finland typically harvests 65-70 million cubic meters in strong years. The 60.1 million figure puts 2025 among weaker recent years. Only the pandemic year of 2020 was notably lower.
Why energy wood matters: The 45% crash signals broader problems. Energy wood often absorbs material that can't find other markets. When even this outlet shrinks, total forest revenue suffers.
What this means for you: If you trade Nordic timber, expect continued caution. Finnish mills won't rush back to buying. They'll wait for construction demand to recover first.
For forest owners elsewhere in Europe, watch Finland as a leading indicator. When Finnish trade picks up, other Nordic markets usually follow. That recovery isn't visible yet.
The 2026 outlook: Most analysts expect gradual improvement. But "gradual" means slow. Don't plan for a sharp rebound. Plan for another challenging year with modest gains at best. Sources: Lesprom Network, Lesprom Network, Luke.fi
📊 Quick Hits
1. 📋 EU Wants Your Input on Carbon Farming Rules – Deadline February 19
The European Commission opened a public consultation on carbon farming certification. Your feedback shapes how forest carbon projects get verified.
What they're asking: How should the EU measure carbon removals? What verification rules work best? The Commission wants input from forest owners, not just big companies.
The deadline: February 19, 2026. That's two weeks away.
Expert Group meeting: February 5, 2026. This will be web streamed. You can watch how officials discuss the rules.
Why participate: These rules determine how your forest carbon projects get certified. Speaking up now is easier than complaining later.
The takeaway: If carbon revenue matters to your operation, spend 30 minutes on this consultation. Your voice counts. Source: European Commission Climate Action
2. 🇫🇮 Stora Enso Reports Q4 Results Tomorrow – Watch for Sawmill News
Stora Enso publishes Q4 2025 results tomorrow morning at 7:30 AM CET. The numbers matter. But the commentary matters more.
What to watch: Any update on the Central European sawmill review. Stora Enso announced in November they're evaluating seven sawmills in Austria, Czechia, Poland, and Lithuania.
The stakes: Those seven mills represent 3 million cubic meters of capacity. That's half of Stora Enso's wood products segment.
New reporting structure: Starting January 1, 2026, Stora Enso reports in three segments: Consumer Packaging, Integrated Packaging, and Biomaterials. This changes how we read their numbers.
Market expectations: Analysts expect adjusted operating profit around €101 million. But guidance for 2026 will move markets more than backward-looking figures.
The takeaway: If you supply Stora Enso mills or compete with them, tomorrow's call deserves your attention. Source: Stora Enso Investor Relations
3. 🇳🇱 Metsä Board Acquires Dutch Sheeting Hub
Metsä Board signed a deal to buy the Winschoten sheeting facility in the Netherlands. The acquisition closes in February 2026.
The asset: Winschoten processes about 100,000 tonnes of paperboard per year. It employs 22 people. The facility converts large rolls into sheets for customers.
The seller: Konvertia Group operated the hub. Metsä Board gains one of the largest sheeting operations in Europe.
Strategic fit: Metsä Board wants more downstream capacity. Owning sheeting operations means better service and margins. They control quality from forest to finished sheet.
The Dutch angle: Netherlands sits at the heart of European logistics. Winschoten gives Metsä Board a distribution advantage for Western European customers.
The takeaway: Finnish companies keep investing in European processing capacity. The market is weak. But long-term bets continue. Source: Lesprom Network
4. 🏛️ CEI-Bois Warns Against Expanding EU Procurement Rules
The European wood industry association pushed back on proposed EU procurement changes. CEI-Bois wants evidence-based policy, not regulatory expansion.
The concern: Brussels is reviewing public procurement rules. Some proposals would add new sustainability requirements. CEI-Bois says current rules already work.
Their message: "Targeted and evidence-based" changes only. No blanket expansions that add paperwork without clear benefits.
Why this matters: Public procurement affects government construction projects across Europe. Stricter rules could help or hurt wood products depending on how they're written.
The lobbying angle: Industry groups rarely win by saying "no." CEI-Bois is framing this as "smart regulation" rather than opposition. That's a tactical choice.
The takeaway: Watch EU procurement discussions in 2026. The rules affect which materials get specified in public buildings. Source: CEI-Bois LinkedIn page
📅 The Weeks Ahead
February 3-6, 2026: Eurobois – Lyon, France
February 5, 2026: EU Carbon Farming Expert Group Meeting (web streamed)
February 12-14, 2026: For Wood – Prague, Czech Republic
February 17, 2026: EFI Med Forum Webinar – Forest Therapy
February 19, 2026: EU Carbon Farming Consultation deadline
February 24-27, 2026: DACH+HOLZ International – Cologne, Germany
April 30, 2026: EUDR simplification review deadline
December 30, 2026: EUDR deadline for large and medium operators
💡 One Thing to Try This Week
Check the EU carbon farming consultation. You have until February 19 to submit feedback.
Fifteen minutes of impact:
Visit the Commission's climate consultation page
Read the summary document (it's shorter than you'd expect)
Note which questions relate to your forest type
Draft brief answers based on your experience
Submit before you forget
Forest owners rarely participate in EU consultations. Officials hear from NGOs and industry associations. They rarely hear from people who actually manage trees.
Your practical experience matters. A consultation response from someone who manages 50 hectares carries weight. It shows real people care about how these rules work.
Don't assume someone else will speak for you. They might. But they might not understand your specific situation.
The deadline is February 19. The form takes 15-30 minutes. That's a small investment to shape rules that could affect your income for years.
Until Thursday!
Wish you all the best: Peter
P.S. What’s the biggest challenge you’re facing in forestry right now?
Hit reply and let me know — I read every message personally.
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