Sawlog prices fall

Prices for conifer sawlogs fell in virtually all 21 regions worldwide covered by the “Wood Resource Quarterly”, both in local currencies as well as in Us dollars. This resulted in the third consecutive decline of the global sawlog price index (gspi) to $86.90/m3. The index was down 2.7 percent from the 4Q/11 and 8.6 percent lower than the all-time high in the 2Q/11. Lower demand for lumber in many markets in Europe and reduced log imports to China were two major factors that pushed log prices downward in the first quarter 2012.