Finland sawnwood, panel, paper output up in 3Q
　
 
The Finnish Forest Industries Federation reported last week on 3Q production that showed sawnwood output up 3.5% in the period compared with a year earlier. Pulp production was higher by 1.4% while paper/paperboard was lower by 0.2%.

The Finnish Forest Industries Federation reported last week on 3Q production that showed sawnwood output up 3.5% in the period compared with a year earlier. Pulp production was higher by 1.4% while paper/paperboard was lower by 0.2%.
"Growth in the western industrial countries remained sluggish" in 3Q the FFIF said, adding that growth was particularly slow in the European Union, and consequently demand for most forest products stayed slack in Finland’s main market area.

"Owing to the weak market situation, further downtime was also necessary in the paper industry in Finland during the third quarter," FFIF said.

Capacity utilization rate was 90%, the same as the year before.

Paper production in 3Q totaled 3.4 million tonnes, 0.7% higher than a year before. Paperboard was off 3.5%. Total paper/board production in January-September totaled 9.8 million tonnes, which was about 2% higher than last year.

"Sawnwood production has remained high throughout the year," FFIF added, as 3Q output was lower than the previous quarters in 2003 but above 2002 levels.

Plywood production also slowed during 3Q as a result of seasonal factors, FFIF said, yet output was up 3% from a year earlier.