Timber Homes Blaze Trail as Hot Export Item
The Estonian timber product export sector has experienced brisk sales this year, led by one of the most popular and high value-added products, the various kits for assembling wooden cottages and homes.
According to statistics from the Environmental Information Centre and the Estonian Woodhouse Association, export of wooden buildings totaled 89.8 million euros in the first six months of 2011, nearly 42 percent more than the year before. The figure for the second quarter was 57.4 million euros, which was 40 percent higher than the second quarter of 2010.
Wood buildings were the largest group among exported wood products in the second quarter, accounting for 14.4 percent.
Norway continues to be the leading export destination when it comes to wooden buildings, with 22.4 million euros worth of the product shipped there. Compared to the first half year of 2010, export to Norway increased by 40 percent. Norway was followed by Germany (19.5 million euros) and Denmark (10.8 million euros).
All told, a total of 738 million euros of timber products were exported in the first half year of 2011, a 25 percent increase compared to 2010. A total of 179.6 million euros of timber products was imported.
Kristopher Rikken