Forestry is one of the most difficult sections of MONSTAT’s June bulletin to interpret. The review notes that forestry data for January, February, March and April 2026 were not published because of administrative and technical circumstances linked to the source institution. That means the visible index does not provide a normal five-month comparison.
The summary table shows a forestry physical volume index of 49.7 for January-May 2026 compared with the same period of 2025, but this figure is distorted by missing data. May itself shows a strong reading, with the forestry physical volume index at 187.2 against the 2025 average. Taken alone, that could suggest a sharp rebound. But without the earlier months, it would be misleading to present forestry as either collapsing or booming.
This is a useful reminder that statistical quality matters for resource-sector analysis. Forestry is not just another small category. It touches environmental management, concession policy, wood processing, rural employment, biodiversity, illegal logging risk and Montenegro’s broader green-economy positioning.
For investors and policymakers, the data gap should prompt caution. Reliable resource statistics are essential for planning sawmill capacity, wood-product manufacturing, export potential and environmental safeguards. They are also important for EU-aligned governance, where transparency and traceability matter increasingly.
Montenegro has forestry potential, but the sector must be analysed through sustainable harvesting, certification, local processing and environmental controls. Raw volume data, especially incomplete data, cannot carry that analysis on their own.
The correct conclusion from the June bulletin is therefore methodological rather than commercial. Forestry needs better reporting continuity before strong claims can be made. In a resource-sensitive economy, incomplete data should not be treated as a minor technical issue. It is part of the sector’s investment and governance risk.
