EU imports of softwood logs from Norway increased by 18% in January-April 2026 compared with the same period of 2025. Sweden remained by far the main destination, while Germany recorded the strongest growth among the major European buyers.
Norway is strengthening its role as a regional supplier of softwood logs to the European Union. In the first four months of 2026, EU imports from Norway reached 1,422,660 m³, compared with 1,201,058 m³ in January-April 2025.
The rise follows a strong increase in 2025, when EU imports of Norwegian softwood logs rose by 47% compared with 2024. The latest data therefore point to a continuing expansion of Norwegian log flows into the European market.
Sweden dominates Norwegian softwood log flows
Sweden remained the main EU destination for Norwegian softwood logs. In January-April 2026, Sweden imported 1,117,364 m³ from Norway, up 14% from the same period of 2025.
This means that Sweden accounted for almost 79% of all EU imports of Norwegian softwood logs during the first four months of 2026. The figures confirm the close link between Norway’s raw material supply and Swedish processing capacity.
Germany was the second-largest destination and showed the strongest increase among the major buyers. German imports rose by 79%, from 131,739 m³ in January-April 2025 to 236,074 m³ in January-April 2026.
EU imports of Norwegian softwood logs by destination
The chart below shows the main EU destinations for Norwegian softwood logs in January-April 2026. Sweden remains far ahead, followed by Germany, while Latvia and Denmark account for much smaller volumes.
Chart 1: Norwegian softwood logs imported by EU countries, Jan-Apr 2026
Note: Bars are scaled against Sweden, the largest destination in Jan-Apr 2026.
Germany records the strongest rise
Germany was the main growth market in early 2026. Imports of Norwegian softwood logs increased by more than 104,000 m³ year-on-year, reaching 236,074 m³ in January-April 2026.
In value terms, German imports rose from €16.6 million to €24.5 million, an increase of 48%. The increase in value was lower than the rise in volume, which points to a decline in average import prices.
Latvia moved in the opposite direction. Imports fell from 61,725 m³ to 48,960 m³, down 21%. In value terms, the decline reached 29%.
Denmark increased purchases by 26%, to 16,914 m³. Poland, which had no recorded volume in the previous period, appeared in the January-April 2026 data with 3,346 m³.
Average prices decline in early 2026
The volume increase was not matched by an equivalent rise in value. Total EU import value increased by 9%, from €121.7 million to €133.0 million, while volumes rose by 18%.
As a result, the average EU import price for Norwegian softwood logs declined from €101/m³ in January-April 2025 to €94/m³ in January-April 2026.
The price decline was visible in several major destinations. Sweden’s average price fell from €96/m³ to €90/m³, while Germany’s average price dropped from €126/m³ to €104/m³. Latvia also saw a decline, from €133/m³ to €119/m³.
| Importing country | Jan-Apr 2025 m³ |
Jan-Apr 2026 m³ |
Change | Jan-Apr 2025 value |
Jan-Apr 2026 value |
Avg. price 2025 €/m³ |
Avg. price 2026 €/m³ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Union | 1,201,058 | 1,422,660 | +18% | €121,738,176 | €133,025,291 | €101 | €94 |
| Sweden | 979,580 | 1,117,364 | +14% | €93,764,716 | €100,632,548 | €96 | €90 |
| Germany | 131,739 | 236,074 | +79% | €16,623,566 | €24,522,915 | €126 | €104 |
| Latvia | 61,725 | 48,960 | -21% | €8,214,250 | €5,850,700 | €133 | €119 |
| Denmark | 13,377 | 16,914 | +26% | €1,287,197 | €1,612,393 | €96 | €95 |
| Poland | - | 3,346 | n/a | - | €406,080 | - | €121 |
| Others | 14,637 | 2 | -100% | €1,848,448 | €655 | €126 | €328 |
| Finland | 14,563 | 2 | -100% | €1,824,666 | €655 | €125 | €328 |
| Ireland | 74 | - | -100% | €23,782 | - | €321 | - |
2025 already marked a major increase
The expansion in early 2026 comes after a sharp rise in 2025. EU imports of Norwegian softwood logs increased from 847,072 m³ in 2024 to 1,243,401 m³ in 2025, a gain of 47%.
In value terms, imports increased from €187.6 million to €273.8 million, up 46%. Unlike the January-April 2026 data, the average annual import price remained almost stable, moving from €221/m³ in 2024 to €220/m³ in 2025.
This suggests that the 2025 expansion was mainly driven by higher volumes, while early 2026 shows a stronger price effect.
Norwegian softwood logs to the EU: 2024 vs 2025
The annual comparison shows that the increase in 2025 was not limited to one destination. Sweden, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands all recorded higher volumes, while France also appeared more clearly in the trade data.
Annual trade table: 2024 vs 2025
| Importing country | 2024 m³ |
2025 m³ |
Change | 2024 value |
2025 value |
Avg. price 2024 €/m³ |
Avg. price 2025 €/m³ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Union | 847,072 | 1,243,401 | +47% | €187,590,924 | €273,789,090 | €221 | €220 |
| Sweden | 600,222 | 770,804 | +28% | €139,590,675 | €195,326,282 | €233 | €253 |
| Denmark | 118,172 | 191,004 | +62% | €27,124,089 | €42,918,801 | €230 | €225 |
| Netherlands | 48,781 | 162,003 | +232% | €14,085 | €44,207 | €0.3 | €0.3 |
| Germany | 58,801 | 95,137 | +62% | €14,066,363 | €25,180,491 | €239 | €265 |
| Belgium | 12,322 | 13,034 | +6% | €5,376,433 | €6,351,099 | €436 | €487 |
| Others | 8,774 | 11,419 | +30% | €1,418,737 | €996,503 | €162 | €87 |
| France | 52 | 9,927 | +18,990% | €14,627 | €3,015,915 | €281 | €304 |
