File Photo – Lehtikuva.
Investments in the forestry industry and market recovery will increase demand for wood next year, according to a forecast of Pellervo Economic Research-PTT.
According to the forecast, wood trade will increase between 3 and 8 per cent from this year’s figure.
The use of wood and commercial felling will increase moderately.
PTT estimates that production volume of cardboard will increase by up to 10 per cent next year. On the other hand, growth in pulp production is estimated at between 3 and 5 per cent.
The largest investment in the forestry industry is the giant bio-product mill in Äänekoski which is set to begin operations in 2017.
The production of paper is, however, projected to significantly decrease this year as well as in 2016.
Paper mills have been shut and the demand has remained weak. The export prices this year will be higher than last year.
