Demand for Finnish forest industry products is expected to improve as the global economy gradually recovers, according to an analysis from Metsäntutkimuslaitos (Metla).

However, the recovery is uneven.

While pulp, board and sawn timber are showing growth, printing and writing paper continues its long-term decline with no clear signs of recovery.

Export Growth Expands Across Multiple Segments

Metla expects several Finnish forest industry sectors to benefit from:

• improving global economic conditions
• stronger international demand
• a weaker euro supporting exports

Sawn Timber

Sawn timber is among the strongest-performing categories.

Exports are forecast to rise by around 5%, supported by:

• improving international construction demand
• stabilizing wood consumption
• firmer pricing conditions

Pulp and Board Continue Structural Growth

Pulp and board markets are also expected to strengthen slightly in both:

• export volumes
• export pricing

The growth is increasingly linked to:

• e-commerce packaging demand
• hygiene paper consumption
• tissue and household paper markets in Asia

This reflects a broader transformation across the global paper industry.

Digitalization Continues To Pressure Printing Paper

Despite recovery elsewhere, the outlook for printing and writing paper remains weak.

Production and exports are expected to stay below previous-year levels as digitalization continues reducing demand for:

• newspapers
• office paper
• magazines
• printed communication materials

For Finland’s forest sector, this remains a major structural challenge because the industry historically depended heavily on paper exports.

Industry Shift Toward Higher-Value Segments

The Finnish forest industry is increasingly focusing on:

• packaging board
• biomaterials
• speciality papers
• fibre-based sustainable products

This transition mirrors broader global industry trends where growth is shifting away from graphic paper and toward packaging and sustainable fibre applications.

Final Thought

The Finnish forest industry is no longer moving as a single market.

Instead, it is splitting into two very different directions:

• declining graphic paper demand
• growing packaging, pulp and hygiene fibre markets

The companies that adapt fastest to this structural shift are likely to define the next phase of Nordic forest industry competitiveness.

Last Updated on 06/05/2026 by Jota Machinery