Efficient sea transport is a key factor for everyone working in the sawmill industry. For Norra Timber, world-leading Norlat Shipping plays a pivotal role in its business – especially when it comes to the export of its products to the Middle East and North Africa.

“What started out with the transportation of sawn logs and pulpwood within the Baltic Sea region has now developed into an extensive network of shipping routes that covers the entire Baltic Sea, Egypt and North America”, says Patrik Patriksson, Senior Chartering Manager at Norlat.

High interest rates and global unrest are still creating problems for the Swedish and global timber markets – resulting in higher timber prices, reduced sawmill production and larger stockpiles of timber products.

The economy will no doubt turn around when the construction industry eventually picks up speed again – but this probably won’t be until next fall.