The outlook for 1998 and 1999 is a slight increase in production from 1997 levels. Production is estimated to rise slightly to 15.5 million m 3 in 1998 and is likely remain at the same level in 1999. From 1990-97, Finnish softwood lumber production expanded 43 percent to 10.6 million m 3 . Finland has three very large producers which together cover about 70 percent of total lumber production. Raw material costs in Finland are lower than in Sweden.
Most sales are made in Swedish currency, thus the mills closely watch exchange fluctuations.
The outlook for 1998 and 1999 is a slight rise in production from the 1997 level. Production is estimated to reach 11.0 million m 3 in 1998 and 11.5 m 3 in 1999. From 1990-97, Finnish softwood plywood production rose by 344 percent to 400,000 m 3 . The majority of production is exported. The percentage of production that was exported has zoomed up from about 60 percent in 1990 to over 90 percent in 1997.