Paper and paperboard production was up more than seven percent in comparison to the first quarter of 2010. The export prices of pulp and different paper grades have also continued to increase during the first quarter.The total value of the Finnish forest industry production in January-March is estimated to have been almost five billion Euros, which is about five percent more than in the corresponding period of 2010.“The forest industry's production has recovered both from the recession and the structural changes. However, the industrial policy decisions included in the coming Program for Government will largely decide how profitable Finnish mills can be in international competition,” says Timo Jaatinen, Director General of the Finnish Forest Industries Federation.“Amending the energy tax refund mechanism, improving the availability of wood, considering the combined effects of taxes and subsidies that promote the energy utilization of wood as well as paying attention to the state of the transport network will have a substantial impact on the future success of the forest industry. All of these issues are influenced through domestic decisions,” Jaatinen points out.Adds Jaatinen: “It is also important that a negotiated solution is reached quickly in the labor dispute with salaried paper industry employees."