2014 Forestry and Timber Statistics Show Jump in Imports

Forestry Commission have released provisional statistics on UK woodland production and trade in 2014. These statistics include data on production, imports and exports of roundwood and wood products for the UK for the years 2010 to 2014.

Some of the most significant figures came around timber and woodfuel imports, the value of which had increased 7% (to 7.2 Billion). 10.7 million cubic meters of wood pellets were imported during this period, a rise of 45%, while imports of sawnwood increased 17% to 6.4 million cubic meters.

Further statistics included:

Removals (harvesting) of UK roundwood:

11.4 million green tonnes of softwood (+5%);
0.5 million green tonnes of hardwood (+1%);
0.8 million green tonnes of softwood under plant health legislation (+116%).

Deliveries of UK roundwood to wood processors and others:

Total: 11.4 million green tonnes of roundwood (softwood and hardwood) (+3%), of which:

Sawmills: 6.8 million green tonnes (+5%);
Wood-based panels: 1.3 million green tonnes (+2%);
Integrated pulp and paper mills: 0.5 million green tonnes (unchanged);
Other uses, including round fencing, wood fuel, shavings and exports of roundwood: 2.9 million green tonnes (+1%).

Production of wood products in the UK included:

3.8 million cubic metres of sawnwood (+5%);
3.1 million cubic metres of wood-based panels (+1%);
4.4 million tonnes of paper and paperboard (-4%);
0.3 million tonnes of wood pellets and briquettes (+11%).

UK imports:

6.4 million cubic metres of sawnwood (+17%);
3.3 million cubic metres of wood-based panels (+10%);
10.7 million cubic metres of wood pellets (+45%);
7.3 million tonnes of pulp and paper (+1%);
The total value of wood product imports was £7.2 billion (+7%), of which £4.2 billion was pulp and paper (+1%).

UK exports:

The total value of wood product exports was £1.7 billion (-3%), of which £1.5 billion was pulp and paper (-3%).

 To view the full data, visit the Forestry Commision website.