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MARKET Beats 5

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Positive Trends In Recent softwood logs fell by around six percent. This brings the

Timber Exports Despite steep upward trend that has dominated the market for over
a year to a temporary halt.
Multiple Challenges

US timber exports to the Philippines soar as local
supply drops

Swedish softwood lumber exports experience a slight The Philippines is expected to see more shipments of wood
increase products from the US in 2025, estimated to be 30 percent
From January to October 2025, Sweden exported slightly more higher than a year ago, as demand outpaces the country’s
softwood lumber and planed timber than in the same period in declining production, according to the US Department of
2024. Substantial increases were recorded in shipments to the Agriculture (USDA),
USA and Morocco, according to Global Wood Trade Network. In a 23 December 2025 report by its Foreign Agricultural
Softwood industrial wood prices in Sweden fell by around Service (FAS) in Manila, the USDA projects American wood
eight percent between the second quarter of 2025 and the exports to the Philippines to reach $28 million, up from $22
third quarter of 2025. million in 2024.

Hardwood industrial wood prices fell by two percent. This “The Philippines remains a net importer of logs and lumber
means that the upward trend that had been virtually unbroken to meet growing domestic demand driven by construction,
since the beginning of 2022 has come to an end. furniture manufacturing, and infrastructure development,” the
Between June and September 2025, Swedish prices for USDA said.

David Lawrence