The Swedish market for wooden construction is growing and exports have also increased in recent years. Swedish wood construction companies have access to quality materials that are of great interest internationally. The export platform Smart City Sweden has interviewed about twenty Swedish wooden construction companies and can state that the pressure is already high in the domestic market, and they currently export mainly to the Nordic neighbors, but that there is also interest to export to the UK, Germany and 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 the export platform Smart City Sweden interviewed exporting wooden construction companies in the spring and early summer of 2021, Denmark, Finland and Norway are the primary recipients of the Swedish wooden buildings. Some also state the United Kingdom, Germany, and the Netherlands. The countries they want to increase exports to are, according to the interviews, North America and northern Europe.
It should be noted that most of the wooden construction companies already today have a high pressure on their wood products in Sweden and the order books are full. Then taking on and starting to export can be a challenge and capacity-demanding. Here, Smart City Sweden can complete in 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, summarize 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 in 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. It is also clear that local markets are important. This is for obvious 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 organizations internationally. Among other things, Smart City Sweden during the world exhibition EXPO in Dubai will show this to an international target group.
For more information and contacts, see www.smartcitysweden.se or directly to Sara Malmgren; sara.malmgren@cleantechostergotland.se, Nina Rismalm; nina.rismalm@umea.se and Ann-Louise Larsson; ann-louise.larsson@dalarnasciencepark.se
