The decline became particularly sharp in the 2000s due to weak growth in the forest sector but also to the poor profitability of the pulp and paper industry, which has discouraged new investments in the sector in Finland.
Erityisen jyrkkää lasku on kuitenkin ollut 2000-luvulla johtuen massa- ja paperiteollisuuden heikosta kannattavuudesta, joka ei ole rohkaissut uusiin alan investointeihin Suomessa.