The Swedish market for wooden construction is growing and exports have increased in recent years. Swedish wood construction companies have access to quality materials that are of great interest internationally. Smart City Sweden has interviewed about twenty Swedish wooden construction companies and the results show that the pressure is already high in the domestic market. The current export is mainly to the Nordic neighbours, but there is also interest to export to the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and Japan.
Sweden has a long tradition and experience of building in wood and many of our regions are forest counties with thriving innovative companies and deep knowledge. Quality timber together with entrepreneurship has created demand and exports to several countries.
When Smart City Sweden interviewed exporting wooden construction companies in the spring and summer of 2021, Denmark, Finland and Norway were the primary recipients of the Swedish wooden buildings. Some also stated the United Kingdom, Germany, and the Netherlands as current export markets. Furthermore, the companies see export potential in North America and northern Europe.
It should be noted that most of the wooden construction companies already today have high pressure on their wood products in Sweden and the order books are full. Taking on and starting to export can be a challenge and capacity-demanding. Here, Smart City Sweden can complete with contacts and networks internationally.
– Something that emerged during the interviews is that this is a growing export. Many of the Swedish companies have a good domestic market and that it can be challenging to apply internationally, according to Sara Malmgren, Nina Rismalm and Ann-Louise Larsson from Smart City Sweden, who have been responsible for interviews and compilation.
It is clear that most companies are at the beginning of their exports and the companies have expressed a need for greater knowledge of markets, both in terms of laws and requirements (everything from building regulations and standards) and contacts to be able to establish, sell or build in-house. It is also perceived as difficult to adjust production in order to be able to adapt to the local market’s local requirements. Local markets are important, for reasons such as physical proximity, easier to work within the EU, and fewer language barriers. But at the same time, there are enormous opportunities to grow internationally with qualified support.
A presentation of the material and the Swedish expertise has been produced and will be shown to embassies, chambers of commerce and potential companies and organisations internationally.
For more information, contact sara.malmgren@cleantechostergotland.se, Nina Rismalm; nina.rismalm@umea.se or Ann-Louise Larsson; ann-louise.larsson@dalarnasciencepark.se.
