Timber prices have remained generally stable through March and early April. However, the birch veneer log market has seen a notable drop – prices were high in March but fell sharply at the start of April. As a result, birch log prices have also come down.

While price levels are not necessarily poor, finding buyers has proven difficult in some cases. The main reason appears to be that major veneer log purchasers now have full inventories. A similar situation seems to be developing in the pine log market.

Such seasonal fluctuations are not unusual in spring, yet given the unusually mild winter this year, the rapid stockpiling has come as something of a surprise. Broader geopolitical uncertainty – including developments in the United States – may also be exerting an indirect influence.