The overall roundwood market remains attractive for a forest investor in Ireland. A COFORD report published last year (Wood Supply and Demand on the Island of Ireland to 2030), identified a shortfall in the supply of roundwood to the domestic sawmilling sector.

On the other hand, for Irish pulpwood the demand and pricing are increasingly attractive in the export market. In the UK and continental Europe, the scarcity of pulpwood is eminent, resulting also from the Russian war in Ukraine.

Dasos, a significant timberland investor with over 250,000 ha of forest under management across Europe and the second largest private forest owner in Ireland (through its funds), is exporting shiploads of Irish pulpwood to the continent at a significant price premium over domestic market prices, a situation which they expect to continue for the foreseeable future.