Latvia has forests covering more than 50 percent of its territory. About half of the forests are owned by the state. Timber is one of Latvia’s top exports. Most of the Latvian sawn timber production is sold outside Latvia. The bulk of the wood exports goes to Sweden, Germany and Great Britain. Over half of the exported sawn timber is intended for construction in which mechanical strength is the main criteria. Latvian spruce has very good strength characteristics that enable it to compete in the international market place.