GWMI has joined the Wood From Finland Conference 2027 as a media partner and will report live from Helsinki on both days of the event, bringing readers news, market analysis and coverage of the discussions shaping the international softwood trade.
The conference’s 25th edition takes place on 10–11 February 2027 at the Scandic Marina Congress Center in Helsinki. The previous edition attracted nearly 600 professionals from 40 countries, including participants attending online, bringing together sawmill executives, timber traders and market specialists from across the industry.
GWMI’s coverage will include articles during the conference and follow-up analysis, examining what the presentations mean for producers, exporters and buyers. Particular attention will go to demand, raw material availability, trade flows and the commercial outlook for 2027.
Two days of international market discussions
Export and import workshops on 10 February will cover Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, and overseas markets.
The following day will be hosted by Anniina Kostilainen of United Bankers, with a welcome from Tino Aalto of the Finnish Sawmills Association and an opening address by Finland’s Minister of Transport and Communications, Lulu Ranne.
Juha Jokela of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs will examine geopolitics, while ResourceWise’s Marko Summanen will discuss global wood markets. Peikko chief executive Topi Paananen will address Saudi construction and investment, and Björn Wahlroos of Wahlroos Capital will consider the forest industry’s future.
Elo chief economist Tiina Helenius will present the economic outlook. Regional sessions will feature Dennis Neilson of DANA on Asia-Pacific, Dustin Jalbert of Fastmarkets on North America, Hassan Sinno of ITCO on the Middle East, and Alexander Kainer of Pfeifer Nordic and Pfeifer Timber on Europe. A Finnish market outlook will close the programme.
The published programme remains subject to change. Please see programme here: Wood from Finland Conference
Building on the debates of the 2026 edition
Raw material supply and access to export markets were central to the February 2026 conference. Speakers examined how geopolitical tensions, tariffs and changes in forest resources were altering the choices available to sawmills and timber buyers.
Mirja Mikkilä of the University of Helsinki presented a regional assessment of roundwood availability, identifying supply constraints in several major producing regions alongside opportunities in Northern and Eastern Europe. Tommi Sneck, speaking as president of the European Organisation of the Sawmill Industry, warned of spruce shortages in parts of Europe and their possible consequences for sawn timber supply.
The North American discussion, led by Russ Taylor and Binderholz’s Thomas Mende, considered the pressure on Canadian producers from duties and tariffs, the barriers facing European exporters and the uncertainty surrounding a recovery in US demand. China’s changing position in international wood markets was another focus, including the relationship between growing domestic production and opportunities for imported products.
Finland’s own resource base also received close attention. Kari T. Korhonen of the Natural Resources Institute Finland examined the country’s forest inventory and harvesting potential, while Finance Minister Riikka Purra addressed the economic importance of sawmilling and the conditions needed to support wood construction.
Reporting and analysis for GWMI readers
Throughout 10 and 11 February, GWMI will publish updates from the conference, followed by articles developing the most relevant findings for the international wood industry.
The reporting will connect speakers’ forecasts with the decisions businesses face: securing logs, allocating production, choosing export destinations and negotiating deliveries. It will also examine where regional outlooks differ and which assumptions about demand, costs and trade underpin the forecasts.
Readers will be able to follow the coverage on Global Wood Markets Info during both conference days and in the subsequent analysis.
Programme details and registration are available on the Wood From Finland Conference website.