Log imports into the European Union grew 19 per cent year-on-year to 554,600 cubic metres in January 2026, driven almost entirely by a surge in cheap Norwegian softwood
In January 2026, the volume of log imports into the European Union experienced a significant increase of 19 percent compared to the same period the previous year, reaching a total of 554,600 cubic metres. This uptick was predominantly fueled by a marked rise in the importation of inexpensive softwood from Norway, which has become a dominant supplier in the market. As a result of this influx, the average import prices for logs within the EU have plummeted to their lowest levels in at least twelve months. These insights are derived from recent data released by Eurostat, which meticulously analyses customs records to monitor and report import trends across all 27 member states of the European Union.
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Timber hauliers need to encourage young blood in, and also look after the hauliers we have, we need make the sector a safe and positive place to work.
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In January, Norwegian exports to the European Union experienced a remarkable surge, increasing by 21.4 percent month-on-month to reach a significant total of 475,500 cubic meters. This impressive rise elevated Norway’s share of the EU’s log imports from 79.3 percent in December to an astonishing 85.7 percent, solidifying its dominance in the market. Conversely, Norwegian log prices saw a notable decline, plummeting by 17.8 percent to settle at US $90 per cubic meter. This price drop also contributed to a decrease in the EU-wide average log price, which fell to US $106—reflecting a 14 percent decline from December and standing 7 percent lower than the US $113 recorded in January 2025.
Meanwhile, Brazil maintained its position as the second-largest supplier, holding a 6 percent share of the market with exports totaling 33,200 cubic meters at a price of US $108 per cubic meter. Switzerland, while contributing a smaller portion of 3.9 percent, commanded a much higher price of US $161 per cubic meter. Notably, Ireland recorded the most dramatic change in terms of export volumes, skyrocketing by 246.7 percent to 10,300 cubic meters at an attractively low price of just US $59 per cubic meter. However, despite this significant increase, Ireland’s 1.9 percent share of the total remains too minor to indicate a meaningful shift in the overall market landscape, categorizing its performance as more of a statistical anomaly than a trend.
In a notable shift, the Central African Republic (CAR), which had previously shown minimal influence in December, experienced a dramatic increase of 597.3 percent in log exports, totaling 1,580 cubic metres in January. This surge marks the highest recorded contribution from CAR to date, with a corresponding price of US $596 per cubic metre. This significant leap in volume and price is anticipated to be an important data point to monitor in the coming months as it may indicate a trend in export activity.
Conversely, log exports from the United Kingdom saw a catastrophic decline, plummeting by 82.8 percent month-over-month to a mere 6,080 cubic metres in January. This drastic reduction erased the UK’s previous 7.1 percent market share from December, leaving it with only a 1.1 percent share of log exports. Notably, despite this sharp decrease in volume, UK log prices paradoxically increased by 51.1 percent, reaching US $128 per cubic metre. The UK had been recognized as one of the more reliable secondary suppliers within the European markets throughout 2025, making this sudden drop in exports particularly significant. The simultaneous occurrence of a vast reduction in volume alongside a price surge suggests that the issue originates from supply-side disruptions within the UK rather than a waning demand from the European Union.
When analyzing the types of timber being imported, softwood, which primarily consists of Norwegian spruce and pine, accounted for 486,300 cubic metres—representing a substantial 87.9 percent of all log imports into the EU for January. In contrast, hardwood logs contributed only 65,600 cubic metres, while tropical logs registered an almost negligible volume of just 737 cubic metres. This strikingly low volume of tropical imports aligns with the ongoing decline in EU tropical timber procurement over the past several years, a trend that has been significantly influenced by compliance pressures stemming from the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Additionally, this decline is consistent with the broader decrease observed in imports from Central African producers throughout 2024 and into 2025. This evolving landscape indicates a potential shift in sourcing strategies and market dynamics within the EU timber market.
January’s figures land as European leaders have staked cautious optimism on a construction rebound in 2026. “With inflation coming down, 2026 could be the year of recovery in the construction markets,” Morten Bergsten, vice-president of the European Timber Trade Federation, told the 73rd International Softwood Conference in Oslo last October. “Regulation and bureaucratic burdens have increased sharply over the last few years,” he said.
“This should stop or, ideally, reverse, for the sector to thrive.” Tommi Sneck, president of the European Organisation of the Sawmill Industry, put a harder edge on the same concern: “When demand resumes, there is a risk of log prices being too elevated,” Sneck warned delegates.
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