Birch Price Trend and Forecast 2026-2027

Germany paid the most for birch in Q3 2026: USD 640/M3, down 0.6% from USD 644/M3 in Q2. Limited supply from eastern sources and high processing costs keep German prices above the other three markets. Worldwide, the average fell 0.5% to USD 562/M3 from USD 565/M3, mostly because log prices were soft in Northern Europe and plywood makers lowered orders, while restocking in China and Germany limited the fall. What about Q4 2026? We expect a global average somewhere in the USD 535-580/M3 range, with log supply during the autumn felling season, plywood demand and furniture orders doing most of the work.

Birch is a pale hardwood used as sawn timber, veneer and plywood, and as a material for furniture, flooring, joinery and interior fittings. The price series in this report follows birch sawn timber per cubic meter. Prices reflect the cost of logs, the yield at sawmills, grade, drying costs and demand from furniture, joinery and plywood makers.

Finland, the Baltic states and neighboring forest regions supply most of the birch used in Europe, while China and North America are large buyers of birch products. The felling season is concentrated in winter, so log supply is affected by weather, and sanctions and trade rules have redirected flows of birch from eastern sources to other suppliers. Birch competes with oak, beech and maple in furniture and with spruce and pine in plywood.

Birch Price Forecast for 2026

Prices should ease slightly through the rest of 2026. Log supply is ample in Northern Europe, demand from furniture and plywood makers remains cautious, and stocks of sawn birch are comfortable. The autumn felling season and restocking by joinery firms should prevent a sharper decline. The Q3 2026 global average of USD 562/M3 is 0.0% above the USD 562/M3 of Q3 2025.

Risks to the Q4 outlook lean to the downside. What could push prices higher? A poor felling season, stronger plywood orders or new restrictions on imports from eastern suppliers would lift prices. What could pull them lower? Weaker furniture demand, larger log supply or lower plywood orders would lower prices.

For the Quarter Ending September 2026

Birch Prices Q3 2026:

• Finland: USD 520/M3
• Latvia: USD 480/M3
• China: USD 610/M3
• Germany: USD 640/M3

Birch Prices in Finland

Prices in Finland softened 1.0% in Q3 2026 to USD 520/M3, compared with USD 525/M3 in Q2. Finnish prices eased as sawmills cut purchases of logs and demand from furniture makers stayed weak. In Q3 2025 the average was USD 526/M3, so the market is 1.1% lower on a yearly basis. Finland ended the quarter 7.5% below the group average of USD 562/M3.

Why did the price of Birch change in Q3 2026 in Finland?

Finland declined. Sawmills reduced purchases of logs, demand from furniture and plywood makers remained weak, and stocks of sawn birch were comfortable ahead of the autumn felling season. Over the first nine months of 2026 the price in Finland has fallen by 0.4%, which compares with a 0.4% gain in the global average.

Birch Prices in Latvia

Latvia recorded a 1.2% decline in Q3 2026, with the average falling to USD 480/M3 from USD 486/M3 in Q2. Latvian prices fell as plywood makers lowered orders and exports of sawn birch to Western Europe slowed. This represents a 2.4% decrease on the USD 492/M3 recorded in Q3 2025. The price in Latvia was 14.6% below the group average of USD 562/M3 in Q3 2026.

Why did the price of Birch change in Q3 2026 in Latvia?

Latvia declined. Plywood makers lowered orders for logs, exports of sawn birch to Western Europe slowed, and mills lowered offers to protect volumes during the summer. Since the end of 2025, the price in Latvia has fallen 1.4%, from USD 487/M3 to USD 480/M3, while the global average has risen 0.4%. On the global measure the average was 0.5% lower over the quarter.

Birch Prices in China

The Q3 2026 average for China stood at USD 610/M3, an increase of 0.8% on the USD 605/M3 recorded in Q2. Chinese prices edged up as furniture and flooring makers restocked and import costs for European birch stayed high. The year-on-year change is a 2.0% increase, from USD 598/M3 in Q3 2025. The gap to the four-market average of USD 562/M3 was 8.5% above for China.

Why did the price of Birch change in Q3 2026 in China?

China firmed. Furniture and flooring makers restocked ahead of the autumn season, and import costs for European and North American birch remained high, which supported domestic prices. The cumulative 2026 change for China is a 2.5% increase, from USD 595/M3 to USD 610/M3, while the global average shows a 0.4% gain over the same period.

Birch Prices in Germany

Germany registered a 0.6% decrease in Q3 2026, taking the average to USD 640/M3 from USD 644/M3 in Q2. German prices eased as furniture and joinery demand slowed during the summer and wholesalers kept stocks lean. The Q3 2026 average is 1.3% above the USD 632/M3 recorded in Q3 2025. Relative to the four-market average of USD 562/M3, Germany traded 13.9% above in Q3 2026.

Why did the price of Birch change in Q3 2026 in Germany?

Germany eased. Demand from furniture and joinery firms slowed during the summer, wholesalers kept stocks lean, and buyers sought small discounts on sawn birch. At USD 640/M3, Germany is 0.6% higher than in Q4 2025, when the average was USD 636/M3, and the global average is 0.4% higher over the same period.

For the Quarter Ending June 2026

Birch Prices Q2 2026:

• Finland: USD 525/M3
• Latvia: USD 486/M3
• China: USD 605/M3
• Germany: USD 644/M3

Birch Prices in Finland

Finland registered a 1.0% increase in Q2 2026, taking the average to USD 525/M3 from USD 520/M3 in Q1. Finnish prices edged up as winter felling was limited by weather and mills restocked. Against the USD 533/M3 recorded in Q2 2025, the current average represents a 1.5% decrease. Finland finished Q2 2026 7.1% below the four-market average of USD 565/M3.

Why did the price of Birch change in Q2 2026 in Finland?

Finland rose. Felling conditions were poor after a mild winter, mills restocked logs for the summer, and buyers of sawn birch accepted small increases. Q1 had brought a 0.4% decline, and by the end of Q2 the price was 1.5% below the Q2 2025 average of USD 533/M3. The price then partly reversed in Q3, to USD 520/M3.

Birch Prices in Latvia

Latvia gained 0.6% to USD 486/M3 in Q2 2026, from USD 483/M3 in Q1. Latvian prices edged up as the mills restocked after the spring thaw and export demand improved slightly. The Q2 2025 average of USD 501/M3 puts the current price 3.0% below its level a year earlier. The four markets averaged USD 565/M3 in the quarter, so the price in Latvia was 14.0% lower.

Why did the price of Birch change in Q2 2026 in Latvia?

Latvia rose slightly. Mills restocked logs after the thaw, which interrupted supply for several weeks, and export demand improved for plywood grades. Coming after a 0.8% decline in Q1, the Q2 figure sits 3.0% below the USD 501/M3 of Q2 2025. Part of the move was reversed in Q3, leaving the price at USD 480/M3.

Birch Prices in China

In Q2 2026, the average price in China rose 1.0% to USD 605/M3, compared with USD 599/M3 in Q1. Chinese prices rose as flooring demand improved and import costs increased. Year on year, the average is 0.3% higher, against USD 603/M3 in Q2 2025. In comparison with the average of USD 565/M3 across the four markets, the price in China was 7.1% higher.

Why did the price of Birch change in Q2 2026 in China?

China rose. Demand from flooring and furniture makers improved after the spring holidays, and higher import costs allowed traders to lift prices for birch boards. The 0.7% gain in Q1 set the base, and Q2 finished 0.3% above the USD 603/M3 recorded a year earlier. Q3 added to the change, with the price at USD 610/M3.

Birch Prices in Germany

Germany's average moved up 0.8% in Q2 2026, to USD 644/M3 from USD 639/M3 in Q1. German prices rose as wholesalers restocked and demand from joinery firms improved. The current level is 2.7% above the Q2 2025 average of USD 627/M3. Germany ended the quarter 14.0% above the group average of USD 565/M3.

Why did the price of Birch change in Q2 2026 in Germany?

Germany rose. Wholesalers restocked sawn birch after a quiet winter, and demand from joinery and interior fitting firms improved with the spring building season. This followed a 0.5% gain in Q1 and left Germany 2.7% above its Q2 2025 average of USD 627/M3. The price then partly reversed in Q3, to USD 640/M3.

Quarterly Birch Price Trends

Birch prices declined gradually through 2025 and rose slightly in the first half of 2026 before easing in the third quarter. The global average moved from USD 569/M3 in Q1 2025 to 566 in Q2, 562 in Q3 and 560 in Q4, then 560 in Q1 2026, 565 in Q2 and 562 in Q3, a net decline of roughly 1.2% across the window. Ample log supply and weak demand from furniture and plywood makers lowered prices through 2025, and restocking supported a modest recovery before the third quarter decline.

What was Birch Price in 2025?

2025 was a year of gradual declines for birch in Finland, Latvia and China, while German prices rose in each quarter. Starting near USD 569/M3 in Q1, the global average finished the year at 560 in Q4, a decline of about 1.6%. Ample log supply and weak demand reduced prices in most markets, while limited supply from eastern sources supported German prices.

Birch Prices in Finland in 2025

In Finland, prices moved from about USD 538/M3 in Q1 2025 to USD 522/M3 by Q4, down roughly 3.0%. Finnish prices declined gradually as the demand from furniture and plywood makers was weak and log supply was ample. By Q3 2026 the average for Finland had reached USD 520/M3, 0.4% below the Q4 2025 close.

Birch Prices in Latvia in 2025

In Latvia, prices moved from about USD 508/M3 in Q1 2025 to USD 487/M3 by Q4, down roughly 4.1%. Latvian prices declined as plywood demand was weak and larger log volumes were available from neighboring markets. The latest quarter places Latvia at USD 480/M3, which is 1.4% below the level at which 2025 ended.

Birch Prices in China in 2025

In China, prices moved from about USD 607/M3 in Q1 2025 to USD 595/M3 by Q4, down roughly 2.0%. Chinese prices declined slightly as construction activity was weak and importers worked down stocks. Since the 2025 close of USD 595/M3, the price in China has moved up 2.5%, reaching USD 610/M3 in Q3 2026.

Birch Prices in Germany in 2025

In Germany, prices moved from about USD 623/M3 in Q1 2025 to USD 636/M3 by Q4, up roughly 2.1%. German prices rose modestly as the supply from eastern suppliers remained limited and demand from joinery firms held up. At USD 640/M3 in Q3 2026, Germany stands 0.6% above its Q4 2025 close. The same regional pattern is carried into the quarterly analysis above, where the quarter-by-quarter figures can be traced.

How We Can Help

Expert Market Research: Your Source for Real-Time Birch Price Intelligence

We keep a continuous eye on birch prices wherever it is produced or consumed at scale, tracing causation through log supply, felling conditions, plywood and furniture demand, energy costs and trade policy. Our forecasts draw on production data, trade flows, feedstock and input cost trends and demand indicators across all reporting regions, so subscribers see why a price moved and not just that it did. Need pricing data, bespoke market analysis, or procurement advisory? Reach out to our team.