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Facts & Figures

General

General information about the timber market

Country	Year	Production		Imports		Exports		Consumption
		(1,000 m³)		(1,000 m³)		(1,000 m³)		(1,000 m³)
		SW	HW	SW	HW	SW	HW	SW	HW

Austria	2007	10,624	235	1,446	219	7,627	187	4,443	267
	2008	10,595	240	1,400	179	6,800	161	5,195	258
	2009	8,500	200	1,450	170	4,900	150	5,050	220
	2010	8,700	210	1,450	160	5,000	140	5,150	230
Belgium	2007	1,400	230	1,690	505	810	295	2,280	440
	2008	1,300	225	1,600	480	730	265	2,170	440
	2009	1,200	215	1,450	445	700	240	1,950	420
	2010	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.
Czech	2007	5,187	267	389	168	2,262	46	3,314	389
Republic	2008	4,800	248	360	153	1,900	49	3,260	352
	2009	4,830	248	355	154	1,950	49	3,235	353
	2010	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.
Denmark	2007	500	100	2,190	210	150	60	2,850	200
	2008	500	100	1,800	210	89	60	2,400	200
	2009	500	100	1,700	210	89	60	2,300	200
	2010	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.
Germany	2007	23,922	1,147	4,010	536	9,332	782	18,600	901
	2008	22,000	1,100	3,364	450	7,765	344	17,600	1,200
	2009	16,500	800	3,000	400	4,500	300	15,000	900
	2010	17,500	900	3,500	400	6,000	400	15,000	900
Finland	2007	12,400	77	520	65	7,129	15	5,791	128
	2008	9,800	75	422	60	6,049	15	4,173	120
	2009	8,000	75	400	60	5,000	15	3,400	120
	2010	8,500	n.a.	400	n.a.	5,400	n.a.	3,500	n.a.
France	2007	8,011	1,926	3,700	681	874	526	10,837	2,081
	2008	7,900	1,900	3,400	640	780	470	10,520	2,070
	2009	7,300	1,800	3,100	600	750	500	9,650	1,900
	2010	6,800	1,800	3,100	550	750	500	9,150	1,850
Italy	2007	720	830	6,050	1,560	60	121	6,710	2,269
	2008	684	700	5,729	1,434	60	200	6,353	1,934
	2009	547	700	4,010	1,362	39	200	4,447	1,862
	2010	694	n.a.	5,843	n.a.	57	n.a.	6,480	n.a.
Latvia	2007	2,421	1,034	555	46	1,762	336	1,214	745
	2008	2,020	870	197	33	1,301	225	916	678
	2009	1,400	600	56	16	905	156	551	460
	2010	1,500	500	56	16	1,100	200	456	316
Norway	2007	2,311	29	1,217	7	393	0	3,286	36
	2008	2,200	29	905	7	417	0	3,070	36
	2009	2,000	29	800	7	475	0	2,325	36
	2010	2,100	n.a.	850	n.a.	525	n.a.	2,425	n.a.
Romania	2007	2,880	1,880	15	20	1,725	760	1,080	1,070
	2008	2,800	1,850	25	25	1,600	800	1,100	1,010
	2009	2,500	1,600	30	30	1,450	700	950	850
	2010	2,700	1,800	40	40	1,550	800	1,050	950
Sweden	2007	18,600	122	400	144	11,300	15	6,250	239
	2008	17,500	110	260	140	12,050	15	5,900	235
	2009	15,000	110	200	140	11,000	15	4,500	235
	2010	16,000	n.a.	250	n.a.	11,500	n.a.	5,250	n.a.
Switzerland	2007	1,500	85	300	144	315	35	1,485	100
	2008	1,600	80	325	35	420	35	1,405	95
	2009	1,360	70	340	35	400	35	1,300	90
	2010	1,550	75	300	35	500	35	1,350	90
EOS TOTAL	2007	90,476	7,962	22,482	4,305	43,739	3,178	68,140	8,865
	2008	83,699	7,527	19,787	3,846	39,961	2,639	64,062	8,628
	2009	69,637	6,547	16,891	3,629	32,158	2,420	54,658	7,646
	2010	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.

Note: several countries were unable to report estimates for 2010. Consequently no consolidated data are presented.

1. Sawn softwood

1.1 Overview of the EOS sawn softwood production 2004-2010 in 1,000 m³

	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009*	2010**	*08/07*	*09/08*
AT	10,917	10,884	10,265	10,624	10,595	8,500	8,700	-0.3%	-19.8%
BE	1,100	1,100	1,300	1,400	1,300	1,200	0	-7.1%	-7.7%
CH	1,410	1,500	1,580	1,500	1,600	1,360	1,550	6.7%	-15.0%
CZ	3,600	3,730	4,830	5,187	4,800	4,830	0	-7.5%	0.6%
DE	18,365	20,806	23,242	23,922	22,000	16,500	17,500	-8.0%	-25.0%
DK		-	250	500	500	500	0	0.0%	0.0%
FI	13,500	12,200	12,100	12,400	9,800	8,000	8,500	-21.0%	-18.4%
FR	7,684	7,756	8,049	8,011	7,900	7,300	6,800	-1.4%	-7.6%
IT	753	790	850	720	684	547	694	-5.0%	-20.0%
LV	-	-	3,296	2,421	2,020	1,400	1,500	-16.6%	-30.7%
NO	2,203	2,300	2,361	2,311	2,200	2,000	2,100	-4.8%	-9.1%
RO	3,458	2,584	2,620	2,880	2,800	2,500	2,700	-2.8%	-10.7%
SE	16,800	17,600	18,000	18,600	17,500	15,000	16,000	-5.9%	-14.3%
EOS	79,790	81,250	88,743	90,476	83,699	69,637	*66,044*	-7.5%	-16.8%

* Estimates / ** Incomplete data as no figures are available for Belgium, Czech Republic and Denmark

As could be expected on the basis of the reports given at the International Softwood Conference in Helsinki in October 2008 and as a result of the worldwide economic crisis, growth of sawn softwood production in the EOS member countries was halted in 2008. For the first time in almost ten years, the output fell by 7.5% to a production of about 83.7 million m³.

Sawn softwood production volumes in the EOS member countries 2000-2009

With the exception of Switzerland, where production increased by 6.7%, the decline in production was general throughout all EOS member countries, ranging from a minor reduction of 0.3% to a steep -21%. Whereas all countries were facing the general economic crisis, some EOS members had to cope with additional difficulties such as log supply and availability.

For 2009, a much stronger drop in production is being expected. Production output is forecast to fall even below the volume recorded in the year 2000 and to reach a volume of 69.6 million m³. This corresponds to a further reduction of 16.8%. Two-digit reduction rates are expected in Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Finland, Italy, Latvia, Romania and Sweden in particular.

For the year 2010, the outlook is slightly better again, though the expected pick-up of production is still very modest compared to the volumes reached previously. A permanent impact on the sawmilling companies can, therefore, not be excluded and is more than likely.

With a production of 22 mio m³ and a share of 26.3%, Germany remained the largest sawn softwood producer within the EOS community. Sweden ranks second with 17.5 mio m³ (20.9%) and Austria third with 10.6 mio m³ (12.7%).

Finland and France complete the top 5.

1.2 Overview of the EOS sawn softwood consumption 2004-2010 in 1,000 m³

	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009*	2010**	*08/07*	*09/08*
AT	4,945	5,064	5,227	4,443	5,195	5,050	5,150	16.9%	-2.8%
BE	1,905	1,970	2,150	2,280	2,170	1,950	0	-4.8%	-10.1%
CH	1,446	1,525	1,698	1,485	1,405	1,300	1,350	-5.4%	-7.5%
CZ	2,360	2,400	3,242	3,314	3,260	3,235	0	-1.6%	-0.8%
DE	17,354	18,442	19,944	18,600	17,600	15,000	15,000	-5.4%	-14.8%
DK	-	-	2,850	2,850	2,400	2,300	0	-15.8%	-4.2%
FI	5,450	4,850	4,771	5,791	4,173	3,400	3,500	-27.9%	-18.5%
FR	10,121	10,154	11,802	10,837	10,520	9,650	9,150	-2.9%	-8.3%
IT	6,806	6,671	7,198	6,710	6,353	4,447	6,480	-5.3%	-30.0%
LV	-	-	1,585	1,214	916	551	456	-24.6%	-39.8%
NO	2,423	2,626	2,963	3,286	3,070	2,325	2,425	-6.6%	-24.3%
RO	1,341	984	923	1,080	1,100	950	1,050	1.9%	-13.6%
SE	5,690	5,900	6,200	6,250	5,900	4,500	5,250	-5.6%	-23.7%
EOS	59,841	60,586	70,553	68,140	64,062	54,658	49,811	-6.0%	-14.7%

* Estimates / ** Incomplete data as no figures are available for Belgium, Czech Republic and Denmark

Sawn softwood consumption in the EOS countries reached its peak in 2006, reaching the threshold of 70 mio m³. In 2007 already, consumption fell slightly but this trend accelerated strongly in 2008.

In that year, consumption fell by 6% overall, despite a still positive development in Austria. In line with the expectations over the production, the total consumption in 2009 is forecast to fall by an additional 15%, ending slightly below 50 million m³. The forecast decline ranges from a minor 0.8% (Czech Republic) to close to 40% (Latvia).

Sawn softwood consumption volumes in the EOS member countries 2000-2009

With a total volume of 17.6 million m3, Germany remains the largest market for sawn softwood within EOS. France ranks second before Italy and Sweden.

2 Sawn hardwood

2.1 Overview of the EOS sawn hardwood production 2004-2010 in 1,000 m³

	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009*	2010**	*08/07*	*09/08*
AT	216	190	242	235	240	200	210	2.1%	-16.7%
BE	385	375	220	230	225	215	0	-2.2%	-4.4%
CH	95	90	88	85	80	70	75	-5.9%	-12.5%
CZ	300	273	250	267	248	248	0	-7.1%	0.0%
DE	1,137	1,132	1,178	1,147	1,100	800	900	-4.1%	-27.3%
DK	-	-	50	100	100	100	0	0.0%	0.0%
FI	84	79	80	77	75	75	0	-2.6%	0.0%
FR	2,111	1,818	2,200	1,926	1,900	1,800	1,800	-1.3%	-5.3%
IT	827	800	800	830	700	700	0	-15.7%	0.0%
LV	-	-	1,004	1,034	870	600	500	-15.9%	-31.0%
NO	25	26	28	29	29	29	0	0.0%	0.0%
RO	1,272	1,737	1,850	1,880	1,850	1,600	1,800	-1.6%	-13.5%
SE	130	130	160	122	110	110	n.a.	-9.8%	0.0%
EOS	6,582	6,650	8,150	7,962	7,527	6,547	5,285	-5.5%	-13.0%

* Estimates / ** Incomplete data

The revival in the production of sawn hardwood in the EOS countries has lasted only for a short period of time. Since 2007, the trend is negative again. Whereas the decline was still rather modest in 2007, production fell by 5.5% in 2008 and is forecast to decline by a further 13% in 2009 (7.5 and 6.5 million m³ respectively).

Sawn hardwood production volumes in the EOS member countries 2000-2009

Italy and Latvia reported the strongest production reduction, which could be related to a lower degree of demand from the furniture sector. The other countries could keep the decline below 10%. In 2009, on the other hand, the situation is quite different, with major production cuts expected in Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Latvia and Romania.

In 2008, France could retain its position as the leading sawn hardwood producer, though Romania is catching up very rapidly.

Germany is the third largest producer within EOS.

2.2 Overview of the EOS sawn hardwood consumption 2004-2010 in 1,000 m³

	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008*	2009**	2010	*08/07*	*09/08*
AT	273	219	271	267	258	220	230	-3.4%	-14.7%
BE	656	635	430	440	440	420	0	0.0%	-4.5%
CH	115	110	127	100	95	90	90	-5.0%	-5.3%
CZ	370	380	345	389	352	353	0	-9.5%	0.3%
DE	1,068	981	994	901	1,200	900	900	33.2%	-25.0%
DK	-	-	200	200	200	200	0	0.0%	0.0%
FI	129	145	145	128	120	120	0	-6.3%	0.0%
FR	1,820	1,534	1,960	2,081	2,070	1,900	1,850	-0.5%	-8.2%
IT	2,249	2,192	2,162	2,269	1,934	1,862	0	-14.8%	-3.7%
LV	-	-	625	745	678	460	316	-9.0%	-32.2%
NO	30	31	35	36	36	36	0	0.0%	0.0%
RO	514	795	881	1,070	1,010	850	950	-5.6%	-15.8%
SE	255	255	290	239	235	235	n.a.	-1.7%	0.0%
EOS	7,479	7,277	8,465	8,865	8,628	7,646	4,336	-2.7%	-11.4%

* Estimates / ** Incomplete data

Trends in hardwood consumption follow the same line as in softwood. After a good demand in 2006 and 2007, it decreased by 2.7% in 2008 and is forecast to further drop to 7.6 million m³ (or an additional 11.4%). This brings the consumption close to the volumes reached in 2004.

Germany recorded a high increase in hardwood timber consumption in 2008, which tempered the overall decline within the EOS region. It will not be able to hold on to this strong performance, however, and a strong drop is forecast for the year 2009 in the absence of important markets such as furniture.