## Forestry Statistics 2020 Chapter 2: Uk-Grown Timber

 
Release date: 
24 September 2020 
Coverage: 
United Kingdom Geographical breakdown: 
Country 

Issued by:  
Forest Research 231 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh, EH12 7AT 
Enquiries:    
Robert Stagg 0300 067 5238 statistics@forestresearch.gov.uk  
Statistician: 
Sheila Ward 0300 067 5236 
Website:    
www.forestresearch.gov.uk/statistics/ 

## Contents

Introduction ........................................................................................ 4 Key findings ........................................................................................ 5 2.1 Wood production ............................................................................ 6 
2.1.1 Summary: wood production 
........................................................ 7 
2.1.2 Origin of private sector softwood removals 
................................... 9 
2.1.3 Origin of FE/FLS/NRW/FS removals ............................................ 
10 
2.1.4 Softwood availability forecast .................................................... 
11 
2.1.5 Hardwood availability forecast ................................................... 
14 
2.2 Deliveries of UK-grown roundwood................................................... 
16 
2.2.1 Softwood deliveries .................................................................. 
17 
2.2.2 Hardwood deliveries ................................................................. 
19 
2.3 Sawmills - All Mills ......................................................................... 
21 
2.3.1 Summary: consumption & production ......................................... 
22 
2.3.2 Number of sawmills by size ....................................................... 
24 
2.3.3 Number of sawmills by country .................................................. 
25 
2.3.4 Number of sawmills by type of wood sawn .................................. 
26 
2.3.5 Consumption of softwood by size of mill 
...................................... 
27 
2.3.6 Consumption of softwood by mills in each country 
........................ 
28 
2.3.7 Production of sawn softwood by size of mill ................................. 
29 
2.3.8 Production of sawn softwood by mills in each country ................... 
30 
2.4 Sawmills - Larger Mills 
.................................................................... 
31 
2.4.1 Softwood consumption and production 
........................................ 
32 
2.4.2 Source of softwood logs ............................................................ 
33 
2.4.3 Sawn softwood product markets ................................................ 
35 
2.4.4 Other softwood products 
........................................................... 
36 
2.4.5 Sawmill employment ................................................................ 
39 
2.5 Pulp & paper ................................................................................. 
41 
2.5.1 Inputs for the integrated pulp & paper mills 
................................. 
42 
2.5.2 Production of paper .................................................................. 
44 
2.6 Wood-based panels 
........................................................................ 
45 
 
2.6.1 Inputs for wood-based panel products ........................................ 
46 
2.6.2 Production of wood-based panel products 
.................................... 
48 
2.7 Miscellaneous products 
................................................................... 
49 
Softwood 
......................................................................................... 
49 
Hardwood 
........................................................................................ 
50 
2.7.1 Softwood round fencing manufacturers 
....................................... 
51 
2.7.2 Roundwood purchased by softwood round fencing manufacturers 
... 
52 
2.8 Exports 
......................................................................................... 
53 
2.9 Certification .................................................................................. 
54 
2.9.1 Volume certified 
....................................................................... 
55 
2.9.2 Chain of custody certificates 
...................................................... 
57 
2.10 Woodfuel and pellets .................................................................... 
58 
2.10.1 Recycled wood used for woodfuel ............................................. 
59 
2.10.2 Woodfuel supply by sawmills and round fencing manufacturers 
.... 
60 
2.10.3 Wood pellets 
.......................................................................... 
61 


## Introduction

This chapter covers the production of timber from woodland and the primary processing of harvested wood to give basic wood products. Estimates for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are included, in addition to UK totals, where possible. International comparisons of timber production are available in the International Forestry chapter.  Further information on the data sources and methodology used to compile the figures is provided in the Sources chapter. Timber originating from conifers is known as softwood and that from broadleaves is known as hardwood.  Please refer to the Glossary for a definition of other terms used in this chapter. Figures for 2019 were previously published in "UK Wood Production and Trade: 2019 Provisional Figures", released on 14 May 2020.  Some figures have been revised from those previously published.  For further details on revisions, see the Timber section of the Sources chapter. A copy of all UK-grown timber tables can be accessed in spreadsheet format from the Data Downloads web page at www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-andresources/statistics/data-downloads/. 


## Key Findings

The main findings for 2019 are (with percentage changes from 2018): 

## Removals1 (Harvesting) Of Uk Roundwood:

- 9.8 million green tonnes of softwood (-14%); - 0.9 million green tonnes of hardwood (+4%).  

## Deliveries1 Of Uk Roundwood To Wood Processors And Others:

- Total: 11.1 million green tonnes of roundwood (softwood and hardwood) 
(-3%), of which:  
- Sawmills: 6.0 million green tonnes (-7%); - Wood-based panels: 1.3 million green tonnes (+9%); - Integrated pulp and paper mills: 0.5 million green tonnes (-5%); - Woodfuel: 2.6 million green tonnes (unchanged); - Other uses, including round fencing, shavings and exports of roundwood: 
0.7 million green tonnes (-3%).  
Production of wood products in the UK included: 

- 3.5 million cubic metres of sawnwood (-6%); - 3.2 million cubic metres of wood-based panels (+5%); - 3.9 million tonnes of paper and paperboard (-1%).  

## 2.1 Wood Production

Wood production (also referred to as removals) refers to the harvesting of roundwood (trunk and branch wood) from coniferous (softwood) and nonconiferous (hardwood) trees.  Figures are generally expressed here in green tonnes (weight when freshly felled). Removals should not be confused with deliveries, which are the quantities of UK-grown roundwood that is delivered to processors (mills) or for other uses (such as woodfuel and exports).  Deliveries statistics are presented in Tables 2.5 and 2.6.  A comparison of removals and deliveries of UK softwood roundwood is provided in the Sources chapter. The figures on removals of UK roundwood are used to monitor trends in the UK forest sector.  The data is also used alongside figures for standing volume (the volume of standing trees) and increment (the growth rate of standing trees) to compile natural capital accounts for inclusion in the UK Environmental Accounts released by the Office for National Statistics. The data are derived from a number of sources: 

- FE/FLS/NRW/FS figures are obtained from Forestry England, Forestry 
and Land Scotland, Natural Resources Wales and Forest Service administrative systems; 
- Private sector softwood figures are obtained from the Private Sector 
Softwood Removals Survey; 
- Total hardwood figures are estimated from hardwood deliveries figures, 
which are compiled from surveys of the UK-grown timber industry, trade associations and expert estimates. 

## 2.1.1 Summary: Wood Production

It is estimated that a total of 10.7 million green tonnes of roundwood was removed from UK woodlands in 2019. Softwood accounted for most (92%) removals from UK woodland and totalled 9.8 million green tonnes in 2019 (Table 2.1a).  This represented a 14% decrease on the previous year's figure. Hardwood removals totalled 0.9 million green tonnes in 2019 (Table 2.1b). Private sector woodlands accounted for 60% of softwood production and 92% of hardwood production in 2019. 

thousand green tonnes 
Private sector2 
Year 
FE/ FLS/ NRW/ 
FS1 **woodland** 
woodland 
Total softwood 
2010 
4,625 
4,633 
9,258 
2011 
4,870 
5,186 
10,056 
2012 
4,836 
5,259 
10,095 
2013 
5,084 
5,852 
10,936 
2014 
4,900 
6,627 
11,527 
2015 
4,691 
5,968 
10,659 
2016 
5,011 
5,734 
10,745 
2017 
4,761 
6,075 
10,836 
2018 
4,522 
6,827 
11,349 
2019 
3,937 
5,864 
9,801 

 
Source: Forestry England, Forestry and Land Scotland, Natural Resources Wales, Forest Service, industry surveys, industry associations. Notes: 
1. FE: Forestry England, FLS: Forestry and Land Scotland, NRW: Natural Resources Wales, 

FS: Forest Service (Northern Ireland). 
2. Private sector: removals from all other woodland (including some publicly owned 
woodland). 

thousand green tonnes 
Private sector2 
Year 
FE/ FLS/ NRW/ 
FS1 **woodland** 
woodland 
Total hardwood3,4 
2010 
70 
464 
534 
2011 
75 
465 
540 
2012 
55 
478 
533 
2013 
78 
453 
531 
2014 
71 
465 
536 
2015 
73 
492 
565 
2016 
68 
528 
596 
2017 
85 
652 
737 
2018 
88 
746 
835 
2019 
68 
801 
869 

 
Source: Forestry England, Forestry and Land Scotland, Natural Resources Wales, Forest Service, industry surveys, industry associations. Notes: 
1. FE: Forestry England, FLS: Forestry and Land Scotland, NRW: Natural Resources Wales, 

FS: Forest Service (Northern Ireland). 
2. Private sector: removals from all other woodland (including some publicly owned 
woodland). 
3. Most hardwood production in the UK comes from private sector woodland; the figures are 
estimates based on reported deliveries to wood processing industries and others. 
4. The increase in hardwood removals between 2016 and 2017 is largely attributed to a 
revised estimate for deliveries of UK grown hardwood used for woodfuel (see Table 2.6). This new estimate should not be interpreted as an increase in a single year.   
 Data:  Longer time series of the above table, including estimates by country (England/ Wales/ Scotland/ Northern Ireland) are available from the Data downloads web page at: https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/statistics/data-downloads/. 


## 2.1.2 Origin Of Private Sector Softwood Removals

It is estimated that 70% of all softwood removals from private sector woodlands were harvested in Scotland, 21% in England, 8% in Wales and the remainder in Northern Ireland in 2019 (Table 2.2). Despite a 14% decrease in private sector softwood removals in the UK in the latest year, the total for 2019 remains higher than the level at the beginning of the decade. 

thousand green tonnes 
Year 
England 
Wales 
Scotland 
Northern 
Ireland 
UK 
2010 
678 
427 
3,471 
57 
4,633 
2011 
738 
501 
3,894 
53 
5,186 
2012 
847 
611 
3,761 
40 
5,259 
2013 
929 
695 
4,205 
23 
5,852 
2014 
1,165 
739 
4,691 
33 
6,627 
2015 
1,052 
686 
4,203 
28 
5,968 
2016 
1,013 
643 
4,043 
34 
5,734 
2017 
961 
783 
4,295 
36 
6,075 
2018 
1,130 
628 
5,022 
47 
6,827 
2019 
1,221 
486 
4,112 
44 
5,864 

 
Source: Private Sector Softwood Removals Survey Data: Longer time series of the above table, including estimates for hardwood removals and for removals from FE/FLS/NRW/FS woodlands are available from the Data Downloads web page at: https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/statistics/data-downloads/. 


## 2.1.3 Origin Of Fe/Fls/Nrw/Fs Removals

Information on removals from Forestry England (FE), Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS), Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and Forest Service (FS) woodlands is obtained from administrative systems. A total of 3.9 million green tonnes of softwood was removed from FE/FLS/NRW/FS woodlands in 2019, a 13% decrease from the 2018 figure (Table 2.3). This represents the lowest level in the last decade. Over one half (54%) of FE/FLS/NRW/FS softwood removals in 2019 occurred in Scotland, 23% in England, 13% in Wales and 9% in Northern Ireland. 

thousand green tonnes 
Year 
England 
Wales 
Scotland 
Northern 
Ireland 
UK 
2010 
1,142 
644 
2,434 
405 
4,625 
2011 
1,185 
689 
2,566 
430 
4,870 
2012 
1,154 
663 
2,627 
392 
4,836 
2013 
1,188 
693 
2,819 
384 
5,084 
2014 
1,064 
722 
2,749 
365 
4,900 
2015 
1,023 
692 
2,644 
333 
4,691 
2016 
1,146 
778 
2,745 
343 
5,011 
2017 
1,087 
660 
2,666 
349 
4,761 
2018 
1,048 
696 
2,438 
339 
4,522 
2019 
905 
525 
2,143 
364 
3,937 

 
Source: Forestry England (FE), Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS), Natural Resources Wales (NRW), Forest Service (FS). Data: Longer time series of the above table, including estimates for hardwood removals and for removals from private sector woodlands are available from the Data Downloads web page at: https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/statistics/data-downloads/. 


## 2.1.4 Softwood Availability Forecast

The National Forest Inventory "50-year forecast of softwood availability" and "50-year forecast of hardwood availability" were published in April 2014.  They are forecasts of potential availability rather than production, as they do not take account of management objectives, financial factors or the state of markets, all of which will affect the level of and timing of harvesting. More information on the forecasts and detailed breakdowns are available on the National Forest Inventory web pages at www.forestresearch.gov.uk/toolsand-resources/national-forest-inventory/. The forecasts are outside the scope of National Statistics, but are provided here to give more context to the data on wood production. As these forecasts were produced in 2014, they do not take into account any of the findings from the 'preliminary estimates of the changes in canopy cover in British woodlands between 2006 and 2015', released in August 2016. The key assumptions underpinning the headline softwood forecast scenario include: 

- Private woodland is managed in a way that maximises total production. - The estate of Forestry England, Forestry and Land Scotland and Natural 
Resources Wales is managed according to current management plans; note that Forestry England, Forestry and Land Scotland, and Natural Resources Wales intend to cap production below the level set out in Table 2.4a. 
Under the above scenario, softwood availability for Great Britain averages 15.2 million cubic metres a year over the 50-year period 2013 to 2061 (Table 2.4a). The majority (66%) of this softwood is projected to come from private sector woodland. 


thousand m3 overbark standing 
Annual average  
in the period 
England 
Wales 
Scotland 
GB 
FE/FLS/NRW1 
  
  
  
  
2013 - 2016 
1,632 
1,082 
4 220 
6,933 
2017 - 2021 
1,330 
991 
3,658 
5,980 
2022 - 2026 
1,211 
895 
3,516 
5,622 
2027 - 2031 
1,159 
778 
3,789 
5,726 
2032 - 2036 
1,066 
934 
3,215 
5,216 
2037 - 2041 
1,013 
794 
2,936 
4,744 
2042 - 2046  
1,055 
531 
2,730 
4,316 
2047 - 2051 
1,014 
585 
3,280 
4,879 
2052 - 2056 
828 
495 
2,886 
4,209 
2057 - 2061 
1,250 
679 
2,339 
4,269 
Private sector2 


2013 - 2016 
2,945 
901 
5,708 
9,554 
2017 - 2021 
3,225 
949 
6,997 
11,171 
2022 - 2026 
2,903 
1,087 
7,830 
11,820 
2027 - 2031 
2,986 
775 
8,910 
12,671 
2032 - 2036 
2,850 
736 
8,847 
12,433 
2037 - 2041 
2,224 
679 
8,133 
11,035 
2042 - 2046 
1,848 
490 
6,527 
8,865 
2047 - 2051 
1,523 
521 
4,986 
7,030 
2052 - 2056 
1,431 
734 
5,679 
7,845 
2057 - 2061 
1,603 
694 
5,627 
7,924 
Total softwood 


2013 - 2016 
4,577 
1,983 
9,928 
16,487 
2017 - 2021 
4,555 
1,940 
10,656 
17,151 
2022 - 2026 
4,113 
1,982 
11,346 
17,442 
2027 - 2031 
4,145 
1,553 
12,700 
18,398 
 
2032 - 2036 
3,916 
1,670 
12,062 
17,649 
2037 - 2041 
3,237 
1,473 
11,069 
15,779 
2042 - 2046 
2,903 
1,021 
9,257 
13,181 
2047 - 2051 
2,537 
1,106 
8,266 
11,909 
2052 - 2056 
2,259 
1,229 
8,566 
12,054 
2057 - 2061 
2,853 
1,373 
7,966 
12,193 

 
Source: National Forest Inventory: 50-year forecast of softwood availability (Forestry Commission, April 2014)3 Notes: 
1. The estate of Forestry England (FE), Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) and Natural 

Resources Wales (NRW) is assumed to be managed according to current management plans; note that Forestry England, Forestry and Land Scotland and Natural Resources Wales intend to cap production below the level set out in Table 2.4a. 
2. Private woodland is assumed to be managed in a way that maximises total production. 3. More recent softwood availability forecasts, covering a 25 year period only, are available 
from the NFI web pages at: www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/nationalforest-inventory/. 
4. To convert softwood 'overbark standing' into green tonnes multiply by 0.818.  See the 
Sources chapter for more details on conversion factors.  
These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 


## 2.1.5 Hardwood Availability Forecast

The key assumptions underpinning the headline hardwood forecast scenario include: 

- In private woodland, harvesting is limited to areas with evidence of 
recent thinning activity.  
- The estate of Forestry England, Forestry and Land Scotland and Natural 
Resources Wales is managed according to current management plans.  
Under the above scenario, hardwood availability for Great Britain averages 1.6 million m3 a year over the 50-year period (Table 2.4b). The majority (89%) of this hardwood is projected to come from private sector woodland. If these woodlands were managed to maximise total production, the forecast would be much higher, as illustrated in the full National Forest Inventory report available at www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/national-forest-inventory/. 

thousand m3 overbark standing 
Annual average  
in the period 
England 
Wales 
Scotland 
GB 
FE/FLS/NRW1 
  
  
  
  
2013 - 2016 
126 
12 
9 
147 
2017 - 2021 
92 
11 
9 
111 
2022 - 2026 
110 
17 
10 
137 
2027 - 2031 
86 
12 
10 
108 
2032 - 2036 
99 
14 
15 
128 
2037 - 2041 
129 
19 
24 
172 
2042 - 2046  
189 
56 
31 
276 
2047 - 2051 
116 
19 
40 
175 
2052 - 2056 
134 
28 
45 
208 
2057 - 2061 
146 
28 
64 
237 
Private sector2 


2013 - 2016 
122 
20 
83 
225 
2017 - 2021 
333 
46 
139 
519 
2022 - 2026 
538 
77 
193 
808 
 
2027 - 2031 
720 
100 
233 
1,054 
2032 - 2036 
825 
115 
262 
1,202 
2037 - 2041 
1,047 
153 
367 
1,567 
2042 - 2046 
1,915 
243 
586 
2,743 
2047 - 2051 
1,678 
227 
675 
2,580 
2052 - 2056 
1,254 
198 
554 
2,006 
2057 - 2061 
645 
139 
343 
1,127 
Total hardwood 


2013 - 2016 
249 
32 
92 
373 
2017 - 2021 
425 
58 
148 
631 
2022 - 2026 
648 
94 
203 
945 
2027 - 2031 
806 
112 
244 
1,162 
2032 - 2036 
923 
130 
277 
1,330 
2037 - 2041 
1,176 
171 
391 
1,738 
2042 - 2046 
2,104 
299 
616 
3,019 
2047 - 2051 
1,795 
246 
715 
2,755 
2052 - 2056 
1,388 
227 
599 
2,214 
2057 - 2061 
791 
167 
406 
1,364 

 
Source: National Forest Inventory: 50-year forecast of hardwood availability (Forestry Commission, April 2014) Notes: 
1. The estate of Forestry England (FE), Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) and Natural 

Resources Wales (NRW) is assumed to be managed according to current management plans. 
2. In private woodland, harvesting is assumed to be limited to areas with evidence of recent 
thinning activity. If these woodlands were managed to maximise total production, the forecast would be much higher, as illustrated in the full National Forest Inventory report available at www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/national-forest-inventory/. 
3. To convert hardwood 'overbark standing' into green tonnes multiply by 0.900.  See the 
Sources chapter for more details on conversion factors.  
 These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 


## 2.2 Deliveries Of Uk-Grown Roundwood

Figures for deliveries relate to the quantity of UK-grown roundwood that is delivered to processors (mills) or for other uses (such as woodfuel and exports).  They are expressed in green tonnes (weight when freshly felled). Statistics on roundwood deliveries are used to monitor trends in the supply of, and demand for, UK-grown wood. Deliveries should not be confused with removals, which are the quantities of roundwood that is harvested from UK woodland. Removals statistics are presented in Tables 2.1 to 2.3.  A comparison of removals and deliveries of UK softwood roundwood is provided in the Sources chapter. The data are derived from a number of sources, including surveys of the UK- grown timber industry, trade associations and expert estimates. 


## 2.2.1 Softwood Deliveries

In 2019, deliveries of UK roundwood (softwood and hardwood) totalled 11.1 million green tonnes, a 3% decrease from the previous year (Tables 2.5 and 2.6). Most UK roundwood deliveries (92%) were softwood and totalled 10.2 million green tonnes in 2019 (Table 2.5). 5.9 million green tonnes (58% of UK softwood deliveries) were used by sawmills, a 7% decrease from the previous year.  A further 1.9 million green tonnes were used for wood fuel (unchanged from 2018), 1.3 million green tonnes were used to produce wood-based panels (a 13% increase), 0.5 million green tonnes by integrated pulp and paper mills (a 5% decrease), and 0.6 million green tonnes for other uses, including round fencing, shavings and exports of roundwood (a 7% decrease). The increase in softwood deliveries for woodfuel in recent years reflects an increase in wood use for heating and energy production in the UK (see the Sources chapter for further information). 

Wood-
Pulp 
Year 
Sawbased 
Fencing Wood 
mills 
mills 
fuel1 
Other2 **Exports** 
Total 
panels 
2010 
5,611 
428 
1,375 
349 
900 
135 
467 
9,265 
2011 
5,855 
453 
1,417 
363 
900 
145 
585 
9,718 
2012 
6,069 
461 
1,269 
338 
1,000 
154 
535 
9,826 
2013 
6,403 
465 
1,263 
332 
1,250 
191 
640 10,543 
2014 
6,721 
465 
1,283 
317 
1,500 
176 
437 10,899 
2015 
6,164 
435 
1,334 
288 
1,600 
164 
276 10,261 
2016 
6,507 
423 
1,248 
277 
1,550 
178 
231 10,415 
2017 
6,571 
442 
1,059 
283 
1,600 
170 
331 10,456 
2018 
6,322 
486 
1,210 
255 
1,900 
174 
264 10,611 
2019 
5,883 
464 
1,316 
262 
1,900 
183 
201 10,210 

 
Source: industry surveys, industry associations. Notes: 
 

1. Woodfuel derived from stemwood, includes estimates of roundwood use for biomass 
energy. The figures are estimated by the Expert Group on Timber and Trade Statistics and 
make use of woodfuel data reported in the Private Sector Softwood Removals Survey. 
2. Includes shavings and poles. Quantities for some uses are estimates by the Expert Group 
on Timber and Trade Statistics. 

## 2.2.2 Hardwood Deliveries

There was a total of 0.9 million green tonnes of UK hardwood deliveries in 2019 (Table 2.6). The majority of UK hardwood deliveries (81% in 2019) were used for woodfuel. 

thousand green tonnes 
Wood-
Year 
Sawmills 
Pulp 
based 
Woodfuel 
Other 
Total 
mills 
panels 
2010 
74 
0 
1 
400 
59 
534 
2011 
80 
0 
1 
400 
59 
540 
2012 
74 
0 
2 
400 
57 
533 
2013 
73 
0 
0 
400 
58 
531 
2014 
76 
0 
0 
400 
60 
536 
2015 
75 
0 
0 
400 
91 
565 
2016 
74 
0 
0 
400 
122 
596 
2017 
65 
0 
0 
600 
71 
737 
2018 
67 
0 
1 
700 
68 
835 
2019 
76 
0 
0 
700 
93 
869 

 
Source: industry surveys, industry associations. Notes: 
1. Figures are based on processing industries' purchases of hardwood grown in the UK and 

estimates for woodfuel and other uses. 
 
2. Woodfuel reported here is derived from stemwood and includes estimated roundwood use 
for biomass energy. 
3. The apparent increase in woodfuel from 2016 to 2017 reflects a new estimate of the level 
of hardwood deliveries for woodfuel and should not be interpreted as an increase in a single year.   
4. Other includes round fencing and roundwood exports. 
 
Source: industry surveys, industry associations. Notes: 
1. Other includes round fencing and roundwood exports. 2. The apparent increase in woodfuel from 2016 to 2017 reflects a new estimate of the level 
of hardwood deliveries for woodfuel and should not be interpreted as an increase in a single year.   

## 2.3 Sawmills - All Mills

Data are collected by Forest Research in an annual Sawmill Survey. The following section includes summary results, covering number of mills, consumption and production are available for all mills. In addition, there are also more detailed figures for larger mills only.  The threshold defining larger mills was changed for the collection of 2016 data, from annual sawnwood production of 10 thousand m3 to annual sawnwood production of 25 thousand m3.  Further information on this change is provided in the section on Larger Mills within this chapter and in the Sawmill Survey section of the Sources chapter. Consumption units are given in green tonnes.  For production, the units used are m3 sawnwood.  For conversion factors between different units, see the Timber section of the Sources chapter. 


## 2.3.1 Summary: Consumption & Production

In 2019, sawmills in the UK consumed a total of 6.2 million green tonnes of softwood, a 6% decrease from 2018 (Table 2.7a).  A further 0.1 million green tonnes of hardwood were consumed by UK sawmills in 2019.  Most of the logs, 5.9 million green tonnes softwood and 0.1 million green tonnes hardwood, were grown in the UK. Despite a drop in the levels of softwood consumption in the UK in the last 2 years, the 2019 figure remains above the level earlier in the decade. 

thousand green tonnes 
UK 
UK 
Imported 
Total 
Imported 
Total 
grown 
grown 
Year 
soft 
soft 
hard 
hard 
soft 
hard 
wood 
wood 
wood 
wood 
wood 
wood 
2010 
5,611 
103 
5,715 
74 
19 
93 
2011 
5,855 
125 
5,980 
80 
20 
100 
2012 
6,069 
124 
6,194 
74 
17 
92 
2013 
6,403 
126 
6,528 
73 
13 
87 
2014 
6,721 
159 
6,880 
76 
14 
90 
2015 
6,164 
182 
6,345 
75 
14 
89 
2016 
6,507 
209 
6,716 
74 
17 
91 
2017 
6,571 
267 
6,837 
65 
13 
79 
2018 
6,322 
325 
6,647 
67 
13 
80 
2019 
5,883 
343 
6,227 
76 
13 
89 

 
Source: Sawmill Survey 


A total of 3.5 million m3 of sawnwood was produced in the UK in 2019, a 6% decrease from 2018. In addition to producing sawnwood, sawmills also generate other products. Further information on other products produced by larger mills are provided in Tables 2.18 and 2.18a. 

Hardwood 
Year 
Softwood 
production 
production 
2010 
3,050 
47 
2011 
3,223 
51 
2012 
3,358 
48 
2013 
3,532 
45 
2014 
3,713 
47 
2015 
3,447 
46 
2016 
3,621 
47 
2017 
3,720 
41 
2018 
3,618 
41 
2019 
3,410 
47 

 
Source: Sawmill Survey 

## 2.3.2 Number Of Sawmills By Size

A total of 150 sawmills processed UK roundwood in 2019 (Table 2.8).  Most mills (83%) produced less than 25 thousand m3 sawnwood (softwood and hardwood) during the year. Over the past ten years, the number of active sawmills has reduced by 20%. Most of this decrease has occurred in the smallest size categories. 

50 - 
Year 
< 1 
1 - <5 
5 - 
<10 
10 - 
<25 
25 - 
<50 
<100 
100+ 
Total 
2010 
73 
51 
13 
24 
8 
10 
9 
188 
2011 
70 
50 
13 
23 
9 
7 
12 
184 
2012 
69 
48 
14 
19 
11 
8 
11 
180 
2013 
67 
45 
14 
17 
13 
6 
13 
175 
2014 
69 
40 
14 
17 
13 
8 
12 
173 
2015 
66 
42 
16 
17 
12 
6 
12 
171 
2016 
60 
41 
16 
20 
6 
10 
13 
166 
2017 
60 
41 
13 
22 
5 
10 
12 
163 
2018 
60 
35 
12 
21 
8 
7 
12 
155 
2019 
56 
35 
13 
20 
8 
6 
12 
150 

 
Source: Sawmill Survey Notes: 
1. Categories are based on total sawnwood production (softwood and hardwood), in thousand 

m3. 
 Data: Longer time series of the above table are available from the Data Downloads web page at: https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/statistics/datadownloads/ 

## 2.3.3 Number Of Sawmills By Country

Around one half (54%) of the 150 active sawmills in 2019 were in England, around one third (32%) were in Scotland, 8% in Wales and 6% in Northern Ireland (Table 2.9). 

| Year     |   England  |   Wales  |   Scotland  |
|----------|------------|----------|-------------|
| Northern |            |          |             |
| Ireland  |            |          |             |
| UK       |            |          |             |
| 2010     |        98  |      17  |         64  |
| 2011     |        96  |      16  |         63  |
| 2012     |        95  |      15  |         61  |
| 2013     |        92  |      15  |         59  |
| 2014     |        92  |      15  |         57  |
| 2015     |        92  |      15  |         55  |
| 2016     |        89  |      14  |         54  |
| 2017     |        88  |      13  |         53  |
| 2018     |        83  |      12  |         51  |
| 2019     |        81  |      12  |         48  |

 
Source: Sawmill Survey Data: Longer time series of the above table, and for mills in England by region, are available from the Data downloads web page at www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-andresources/statistics/data-downloads/. 


## 2.3.4 Number Of Sawmills By Type Of Wood Sawn

Around two thirds (67%) of the 150 active sawmills in 2019 processed softwood only (Table 2.10). A further 27% processed both softwood and hardwood, and the remainder processed only hardwood. 

Hardwood 
Year 
Softwood 
only 
only 
Both 
Total 
2010 
122 
10 
56 
188 
2011 
120 
10 
54 
184 
2012 
118 
11 
51 
180 
2013 
118 
11 
46 
175 
2014 
115 
9 
49 
173 
2015 
112 
9 
50 
171 
2016 
109 
9 
48 
166 
2017 
109 
10 
44 
163 
2018 
102 
9 
44 
155 
2019 
101 
8 
41 
150 

 
Source: Sawmill Survey 

## 2.3.5 Consumption Of Softwood By Size Of Mill

Despite accounting for only 17% of all sawmills (see Table 2.8), those with total annual sawnwood production of 25 thousand m3 or more accounted for 85% of the total softwood consumed by sawmills in 2019 (Table 2.11). 

thousand green tonnes 
50 - 
Year 
< 1 
1 - <5 
5 - 
<10 
10 - 
<25 
25 - 
<50 
<100 
100 + 
Total 
2010 
33 
184 
155 
744 
537 
1,373 
2,689 
5,715 
2011 
32 
176 
156 
685 
615 
830 
3,486 
5,980 
2012 
33 
172 
184 
539 
738 
1,133 
3,395 
6,194 
2013 
36 
173 
177 
476 
804 
777 
4,085 
6,528 
2014 
36 
146 
173 
486 
833 
1,090 
4,117 
6,880 
2015 
31 
156 
204 
553 
795 
801 
3,805 
6,345 
2016 
28 
142 
199 
588 
372 
1,117 
4,270 
6,716 
2017 
29 
152 
152 
692 
339 
1,352 
4,122 
6,837 
2018 
32 
127 
134 
626 
585 
1,009 
4,134 
6,647 
2019 
30 
127 
169 
639 
550 
831 
3,881 
6,227 

 
Source: Sawmill Survey Notes: 
1. Categories are based on total sawnwood production (softwood and hardwood), in thousand m3. Data: Longer time series of the above table are available from the Data downloads web page at: https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/statistics/data-downloads/  

## 2.3.6 Consumption Of Softwood By Mills In Each Country

Mills in Scotland consumed around one half (48%) of the 6.2 million green tonnes of softwood delivered to UK sawmills in 2019 (Table 2.12).  A further 32% was consumed by mills in England, 11% in Northern Ireland and 9% in Wales. 

thousand green tonnes 
Year 
England 
Wales 
Scotland 
Northern 
Ireland 
UK 
2010 
1,694 
583 
2,909 
528 
5,715 
2011 
1,726 
634 
3,078 
543 
5,980 
2012 
1,821 
654 
3,191 
528 
6,194 
2013 
1,879 
702 
3,416 
532 
6,528 
2014 
1,982 
711 
3,657 
530 
6,880 
2015 
1,917 
655 
3,243 
531 
6,345 
2016 
1,984 
737 
3,437 
558 
6,716 
2017 
2,089 
691 
3,475 
583 
6,837 
2018 
2,030 
648 
3,329 
640 
6,647 
2019 
1,993 
561 
2,994 
678 
6,227 

 
Source: Sawmill Survey Data: Longer time series of the above table, and for mills in England by region, are available from the Data downloads web page at: https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-andresources/statistics/data-downloads/  

## 2.3.7 Production Of Sawn Softwood By Size Of Mill

UK sawmills produced a total of 3.4 million m3 of sawn softwood in 2019, a 6% decrease from the 2018 figure (Table 2.13). Sawmills with total annual sawnwood production of 25 thousand m3 or more accounted for 85% of the total sawn softwood produced by sawmills in 2019. 

thousand m3 
50 - 
Year 
< 1 
1 - <5 
5 - 
<10 
10 - 
<25 
25 - 
<50 
<100 
100 + 
Total 
2010 
19 
105 
84 
395 
304 
693 
1,450 
3,050 
2011 
18 
101 
86 
374 
335 
443 
1,867 
3,223 
2012 
18 
100 
95 
314 
393 
564 
1,874 
3,358 
2013 
20 
100 
93 
287 
429 
404 
2,200 
3,532 
2014 
20 
84 
91 
282 
448 
563 
2,224 
3,713 
2015 
18 
90 
111 
296 
466 
422 
2,045 
3,447 
2016 
17 
82 
106 
338 
186 
597 
2,296 
3,621 
2017 
17 
88 
77 
384 
178 
647 
2,328 
3,720 
2018 
19 
73 
65 
355 
311 
468 
2,327 
3,618 
2019 
18 
72 
80 
349 
306 
382 
2,203 
3,410 

 
Source: Sawmill Survey Notes: 
1. Categories are based on total sawnwood production (softwood and hardwood), in thousand m3. Data: Longer time series of the above table, are available from the Data downloads web page at: https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/statistics/data-downloads/  

## 2.3.8 Production Of Sawn Softwood By Mills In Each Country

1.7 million m3 (49%) of sawn softwood was produced by sawmills in Scotland in 2019 (Table 2.14).  A further 33% was produced by mills in England, 10% in Northern Ireland and the remaining 8% in Wales. 

thousand m3 
Year 
England 
Wales 
Scotland 
Northern 
Ireland 
UK 
2010 
927 
291 
1,556 
275 
3,050 
2011 
954 
316 
1,663 
291 
3,223 
2012 
1,001 
326 
1,743 
288 
3,358 
2013 
1,026 
349 
1,869 
289 
3,532 
2014 
1,091 
354 
1,981 
286 
3,713 
2015 
1,056 
324 
1,783 
284 
3,447 
2016 
1,093 
366 
1,867 
294 
3,621 
2017 
1,159 
319 
1,917 
326 
3,720 
2018 
1,122 
308 
1,837 
351 
3,618 
2019 
1,108 
266 
1,684 
351 
3,410 

 
Source: Sawmill Survey Data: Longer time series of the above table, and for mills in England by region, are available from the Data downloads web page at: https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-andresources/statistics/data-downloads/  

## 2.4 Sawmills - Larger Mills

The following, more detailed, tables are available for larger mills (those producing at least 25 thousand m3 sawnwood annually) only. These larger mills are estimated to account for 85% of all sawn softwood produced in 2019 (see Table 2.13). The threshold for inclusion in the more detailed survey of larger sawmills was raised from 10 thousand m3 sawnwood production to 25 thousand m3 sawnwood production in 2016. In order to provide consistent time series, data presented in this section for 2015 is also restricted to sawmills that produced at least 25 thousand m3 sawnwood. The tables cover the following topics: 

- Source of softwood logs; - Sawn softwood product markets; - Other softwood products; and - Sawmill employment.  

## 2.4.1 Softwood Consumption And Production

Total softwood consumption by the 26 sawmills covered by the detailed sawmill survey in 2019 was 5.3 million green tonnes (Table 2.15).  Sawn softwood production by these mills was 2.9 million m3 and other softwood products (chips, bark, sawdust, etc) amounted to 2.5 million tonnes. Sawmills in Scotland accounted for around one half (48%) of all softwood consumption by larger mills. A further 31% was consumed by mills in England, 12% in Northern Ireland and the remaining 8% in Wales. 

| Large mills         |   England Wales  Scotland   |
|---------------------|-----------------------------|
| Northern            |                             |
| Ireland             |                             |
| UK                  |                             |
| Number of mills     |                         10  |
| 1,652               |                        434  |
| Consumption         |                             |
| (thousand green     |                             |
| tonnes)             |                             |
| Sawnwood production |                             |
| (thousand m         |                             |
| 3                   |                             |
| )                   |                             |
| 928                 |                        198  |
| Other products      |                             |
| (thousand tonnes)   |                             |
| 573                 |                        239  |

 
Source: Sawmill Survey (detailed) 
Notes: 
1. Sawmills producing at least 25 thousand m3 sawnwood (softwood and hardwood). 

## 2.4.2 Source Of Softwood Logs

Of all softwood sawlogs consumed by larger sawmills in 2019, 54% came from Scotland, 21% from England, 13% from Wales and 6% from Northern Ireland (Tables 2.16 and 2.16a).  The remaining 7% were imported from other countries.  The proportion of softwood sawlogs from Scotland has declined over the last 5 years, whilst the proportion of imported logs has increased. 96% of softwood sawlogs used by Scottish mills in 2019 came from Scotland. The corresponding proportions of mills' log use coming from within the same country were 60% for England, 72% for Wales and 46% for Northern Ireland. 

thousand green tonnes 
Source 
England Wales  Scotland  Northern 
Ireland 
UK 
England 
989 
30 
94 
0 
1,113 
Wales  
358 
315 
0 
0 
673 
Scotland  
305 
78 
2,444 
12 
2,839 
Northern Ireland 
0 
0 
0 
294 
294 
Total UK logs 
1,652 
423 
2,538 
306 
4,919 
Other countries 
0 
12 
0 
332 
343 
Total log consumption 
1,652 
434 
2,538 
638 
5,262 

 
Source: Sawmill Survey (detailed) Notes: 
1. Sawmills producing at least 25 thousand m3 sawnwood (softwood and hardwood). 


per cent of total softwood consumption 
Other 
Year 
England 
Wales  
Scotland  Northern 
Ireland 
countries 
Total 
2015 
19 
13 
60 
4 
3 
100 
2016 
20 
14 
59 
5 
4 
100 
2017 
20 
14 
57 
4 
5 
100 
2018 
20 
13 
57 
5 
6 
100 
2019 
21 
13 
54 
6 
7 
100 

 
Source: Sawmill Survey (detailed) Notes: 
1. Sawmills producing at least 25 thousand m3 sawnwood (softwood and hardwood). 


## 2.4.3 Sawn Softwood Product Markets

In 2019, 37% of sawn softwood produced by larger sawmills was used for fencing, 30% for construction, 26% for packaging and pallets, and the remaining 7% went to all other markets (Tables 2.17 and 2.17a). 

| Product market     |   England  |   Wales   |   Scotland   |
|--------------------|------------|-----------|--------------|
| Northern           |            |           |              |
| Ireland            |            |           |              |
| UK                 |            |           |              |
| Construction       |        19  |       16  |          40  |
| Fencing            |        53  |       30  |          27  |
| Packaging/ pallets |        24  |       45  |          24  |
| Other              |         4  |       10  |           9  |
| Total              |       100  |      100  |         100  |

 
Source: Sawmill Survey (detailed) Notes: 1. Sawmills producing at least 25 thousand m3 sawnwood (softwood and hardwood). 

 

per cent of total softwood product markets 
Year 
Construction 
Fencing 
Packaging/ 
pallets 
Other 
Total 
2015 
27 
36 
30 
6 
100 
2016 
28 
35 
30 
7 
100 
2017 
32 
36 
24 
8 
100 
2018 
33 
36 
24 
7 
100 
2019 
30 
37 
26 
7 
100 

 
Source: Sawmill Survey (detailed) Notes: 1. Sawmills producing at least 25 thousand m3 sawnwood (softwood and hardwood). 

## 2.4.4 Other Softwood Products

Sawmills were asked to estimate the quantity of other products (excluding sawnwood) that they generated from softwood and sold to different industries. The figures presented below are based on these estimates. Other softwood products amounted to 2.5 million tonnes in 2019 (Table 2.15). Around one third (36%) of other softwood products were sold to wood processing industries in the form of chips and 17% were sold to these industries in sawdust and other formats (Table 2.18). A further 20% of other products were sold to bio-energy (including pellet manufacturers), 19% were sold to others and 8% were used internally for heat or energy. 


per cent of total other softwood products 
Destination and type 
of product2 
England Wales  Scotland  Northern 
Ireland 
UK 
Sold to wood processing industries 
  
  
  
  
  
Wood chips 
46 
60 
37 
0 
36 
Bark 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Sawdust & other 
21 
24 
18 
0 
17 
Total 
67 
84 
54 
0 
53 
  

 
  
Sold to bio-energy (incl pellet manufacturers) 
Wood chips 
11 
4 
17 
18 
15 
Bark 
1 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Sawdust & other 
0 
0 
5 
18 
5 
Total 
12 
4 
22 
36 
20 
Other sales 
  

 
  
Wood chips 
3 
0 
6 
20 
7 
Bark 
9 
11 
9 
11 
9 
Sawdust & other 
4 
0 
4 
2 
3 
Total 
16 
11 
19 
34 
19 
Internal use for heat/energy 
  

 
  
Wood chips 
4 
0 
3 
30 
7 
Bark 
0 
0 
1 
1 
1 
Sawdust & other 
0 
1 
1 
0 
1 
Total 
5 
1 
5 
31 
8 

 
Source: Sawmill Survey (detailed) Notes: 1. Sawmills producing at least 25 thousand m3 sawnwood (softwood and hardwood). 



The proportions of other products that were reported as sold to wood processing industries have shown an overall reduction over the last five years (Table 2.18a). 

per cent of total other softwood products 
Sold to 
Sold to bio-
Internal 
wood 
energy  
Other 
use for 
Year 
Total2 
processing 
(incl pellet 
sales 
heat/ 
industries 
manufacturers) 
energy 
2015 
60 
21 
17 
2 
100 
2016 
58 
21 
19 
2 
100 
2017 
56 
22 
19 
3 
100 
2018 
46 
24 
25 
5 
100 
2019 
53 
20 
19 
8 
100 

 
Source: Sawmill Survey (detailed) Notes: 
1. Sawmills producing at least 25 thousand m3 sawnwood (softwood and hardwood). 2. Total includes sales of firewood and other products disposed of as waste. 


## 2.4.5 Sawmill Employment

There were estimated to be 2.7 thousand full-time equivalent staff employed directly by sawmills producing at least 25 thousand m3 of sawnwood in 2019 (Tables 2.19 and 2.19a). 

full-time equivalents 
Employment type 
England 
Wales  Scotland  Northern 
Ireland 
UK 
Direct 
  

 
Line & production workers 
777 
152 
1,039 
252 
2,220 
Managerial & administrative staff 
166 
15 
113 
101 
395 
Haulage of logs to the mill 
58 
0 
16 
2 
76 
Total direct employment 
1,001 
167 
1,168 
355 
2,691 
Others2 
  

 
Line & production workers 
20 
0 
56 
0 
76 
Managerial & administrative staff 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Total contract employment 
20 
0 
56 
0 
76 

 
Source: Sawmill Survey (detailed) Notes: 1. Sawmills producing at least 25 thousand m3 sawnwood (softwood and hardwood). 2. 'Others' refers to others undertaking work for the sawmill, including contractors and their 

employees.  
3. The results exclude any employment on harvesting, and any employment at the site not 
directly related to the sawmill (e.g. exclude work producing pallets or other wood products from sawn wood). 
4. Excludes haulage employment on contract. 

full-time equivalents 
Line & 
Managerial & 
Total 
Employment 
production 
administrative 
Haulage of 
logs to the 
employment 
workers 
staff 
mill 
Direct 
  
  
  
  
2015 
2,341 
394 
44 
2,779 
2016 
2,456 
384 
45 
2,885 
2017 
2,369 
428 
79 
2,875 
2018 
2,368 
416 
75 
2,859 
2019 
2,220 
395 
76 
2,691 
Others2 

 
 
2015 
58 
0 
.. 
58 
2016 
50 
2 
.. 
52 
2017 
76 
3 
.. 
79 
2018 
50 
0 
.. 
50 
2019 
76 
0 
.. 
76 

 
Source: Sawmill Survey (detailed) Notes: 1. Sawmills producing at least 25 thousand m3 sawnwood (softwood and hardwood). 

2. Excludes haulage employment on contract. 3. .. Denotes data not available. 

 

## 2.5 Pulp & Paper

Statistics on inputs to the pulp & paper industry only cover the integrated pulp & paper mills in the UK that use UK roundwood.  There were four such mills until 2003, three from 2004 and two from spring 2006.  Figures on inputs are provided by the Confederation of Forest Industries (Confor). Figures on production of pulp and paper are provided by the Confederation of Paper Industries, and cover all paper production in the UK, not just from mills using UK roundwood. 


## 2.5.1 Inputs For The Integrated Pulp & Paper Mills

The integrated pulp & paper mills in the UK consumed a total of 0.5 million tonnes of material (all softwood) in 2019, a 3% decrease from the 2018 total (Table 2.20). UK roundwood represented 88% of the inputs for the integrated pulp & paper mills in 2019, with the remaining 12% coming from sawmill products. 

thousand green tonnes 
Year 
UK roundwood2 
Sawmill products 
Total 
2010 
428 
98 
526 
2011 
453 
99 
552 
2012 
461 
79 
540 
2013 
465 
83 
548 
2014 
465 
97 
562 
2015 
435 
101 
536 
2016 
423 
82 
505 
2017 
442 
61 
503 
2018 
486 
55 
541 
2019 
464 
61 
525 

 
Source: Confor Notes: 1. Excludes inputs of recycled paper and cardboard. All inputs are softwood. 2. UK roundwood derived from stemwood. 


## 2.5.2 Production Of Paper

Figures for the production of paper (Table 2.21) are provided by the Confederation of Paper Industries.  They cover all paper production from UK mills, not just those using UK roundwood.  Most UK paper production uses recovered waste paper or imported pulp. A total of 3.9 million tonnes of paper and paperboard was produced in the UK in 2019, a decrease of 1% from the previous year.  Packaging materials accounted for 49% of the total UK paper production in 2019, graphic papers (including newsprint) for 24%, and sanitary and household papers for 20%. 

thousand tonnes 
Graphic 
Sanitary & 
Total paper 
papers 
Packaging 
Year 
household 
& 
(incl 
materials 
Other 
papers 
paperboard 
newsprint) 
2010 
1,637 
729 
1,640 
294 
4,300 
2011 
1,669 
766 
1,600 
307 
4,342 
2012 
1,616 
795 
1,798 
271 
4,480 
2013 
1,636 
802 
1,851 
272 
4,561 
2014 
1,544 
768 
1,801 
284 
4,397 
2015 
1,053 
772 
1,894 
251 
3,970 
2016 
897 
730 
1,800 
250 
3,677 
2017 
918 
734 
1,935 
270 
3,858 
2018 
962 
738 
1,904 
291 
3,894 
2019 
918 
762 
1,884 
287 
3,851 

 
Source: Confederation of Paper Industries 

## 2.6 Wood-Based Panels

Wood-based panels include oriented strand board (OSB), wood chipboard and cement bonded particleboard (which are all types of particleboard), and medium density fibreboard (MDF) and other fibreboard (which are both types of fibreboard). Statistics on wood-based panels are provided by the Wood Panel Industries Federation (WPIF). 


## 2.6.1 Inputs For Wood-Based Panel Products

Table 2.22 and Figure 2.4 provide statistics on the inputs to mills that produce wood-based panels in the UK.  The mills used a total of 3.9 million tonnes of material in 2019, representing a 3% increase from 2018.  The inputs in 2019 comprised 1.3 million green tonnes of roundwood (34%), 1.5 million green tonnes of sawmill products (38%), 1.0 million tonnes of recycled wood fibre (25%) and 0.1 million tonnes of imports (3%). 

| UK       | UK       |
|----------|----------|
| Recycled |          |
| round-   | round-   |
| 2        |          |
| Imports  |          |
| 2        |          |
|          |          |
| Year     | wood     |
| wood     |          |
| 1        |          |
|          | wood     |
| 1        |          |
|          | products |
| fibre    |          |
| 3,4      |          |
|          |          |
| softwood | hardwood |
| 2010     | 1,375    |
| 2011     | 1,417    |
| 2012     | 1,269    |
| 2013     | 1,263    |
| 2014     | 1,283    |
| 2015     | 1,334    |
| 2016     | 1,248    |
| 2017     | 1,059    |
| 2018     | 1,210    |
| 2019     | 1,316    |

 
Source: Wood Panel Industries Federation Notes: 1. UK roundwood derived from stemwood. 

2. Imports include roundwood, wood products and products from imported wood. 3. Recycled wood fibre is wood fibre recovered from both pre- and post-consumer wood waste 
for use in woodbased panel production.  It comprises wood originally grown in the UK and wood originally grown in forests outside the UK. 
4. Quantities are as delivered, with an assumed average moisture content of 25%.  To 
convert to green tonnes (assuming moisture content of 52%), multiply by 1.56. 
Source: Wood Panel Industries Federation. Note: 
1. Recycled wood fibre data not available before 1999. 


## 2.6.2 Production Of Wood-Based Panel Products

Total production of wood-based panels in 2019 was 3.2 million m3, a 5% increase from 2018 (Table 2.23).  Over three quarters (77%) of wood-based panel products produced in the UK in 2019 were particleboard (including oriented strand board (OSB)). The marked decrease between 2011 and 2012 largely results from the closure of a panel mill in 2012. 

thousand m3 
Year 
Particleboard1 
Fibreboard2 
Total 
2010 
2,594 
776 
3,370 
2011 
2,625 
759 
3,384 
2012 
2,215 
788 
3,003 
2013 
2,276 
756 
3,032 
2014 
2,319 
749 
3,068 
2015 
2,324 
756 
3,080 
2016 
2,349 
684 
3,033 
2017 
2,501 
675 
3,176 
2018 
2,355 
724 
3,079 
2019 
2,495 
751 
3,246 

 
Source: Wood Panel Industries Federation Notes: 1. Includes Oriented Strand Board (OSB). 

2. Includes Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF). 3. Changes in the mix of materials used and type of product produced can result in apparent 
discrepancies between the trends for inputs (Table 2.22) and production. 

## 2.7 Miscellaneous Products Softwood

Data for softwood fencing are obtained from the Survey of Round Fencing Manufacturers.  Figures for other uses are reported by manufacturers or are estimated by representatives of the wood processing industries. 1.9 million green tonnes of UK softwood were estimated to have been used directly for woodfuel (including biomass energy) in 2019, unchanged from the level in the previous year (Table 2.24).  A further 262 thousand green tonnes of UK softwood were consumed by round fencing manufacturers and 183 thousand green tonnes for other uses in 2019. 

thousand green tonnes 
Year 
Fencing 
Woodfuel1 
Other2 
Total 
2010 
349 
900 
135 
1,384 
2011 
363 
900 
145 
1,408 
2012 
338 
1,000 
154 
1,492 
2013 
332 
1,250 
191 
1,773 
2014 
317 
1,500 
176 
1,992 
2015 
288 
1,600 
164 
2,052 
2016 
277 
1,550 
178 
2,006 
2017 
283 
1,600 
170 
2,053 
2018 
255 
1,900 
174 
2,329 
2019 
262 
1,900 
183 
2,346 

 
Source: Survey of Round Fencing Manufacturers, industry associations. Notes: 

1. Woodfuel derived from stemwood. Includes estimates of roundwood use for biomass 
energy. The figures are estimated by the Expert Group on Timber and Trade Statistics and make use of woodfuel data reported in the Private Sector Softwood Removals Survey. 
2. Includes shavings and poles. Quantities for some uses are estimates by the Expert Group 
on Timber and Trade Statistics. 

## Hardwood

An estimated 700 thousand green tonnes of UK hardwood were used for woodfuel (including biomass energy) in 2019.  A further 30 thousand green tonnes were estimated to have been consumed by round fencing manufacturers and 63 thousand green tonnes for other uses, including exports. 


## 2.7.1 Softwood Round Fencing Manufacturers

There were 46 active round fencing manufacturers in 2019 (Table 2.25). Around two thirds of round fencing manufacturers (65%) consumed less than 5 thousand green tonnes of softwood annually. 

|   Year  |   < 1  |   1 - <5  |   5 - <10  |   10 +  |   Total  |
|---------|--------|-----------|------------|---------|----------|
|   2010  |    21  |       24  |        13  |      6  |      64  |
|   2011  |    21  |       24  |        10  |      8  |      63  |
|   2012  |    21  |       21  |        11  |      7  |      60  |
|   2013  |    20  |       22  |        11  |      7  |      60  |
|   2014  |    18  |       21  |        10  |      7  |      56  |
|   2015  |    15  |       19  |        10  |      6  |      50  |
|   2016  |    17  |       16  |        11  |      6  |      50  |
|   2017  |    16  |       17  |         9  |      7  |      49  |
|   2018  |    15  |       15  |        10  |      6  |      46  |
|   2019  |    14  |       16  |        10  |      6  |      46  |

 
Source: Survey of Round Fencing Manufacturers Notes: 1. Categories are based on total softwood consumption, in thousand green tonnes. Data: Longer time series of the number of softwood round fencing manufacturers, by size category and by country (England/ Wales/ Scotland/ Northern Ireland) are available from the Data downloads web page at: https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-andresources/statistics/data-downloads/. 


## 2.7.2 Roundwood Purchased By Softwood Round Fencing Manufacturers

A total of 288 thousand green tonnes of softwood (UK grown and imported) was purchased by softwood fencing manufacturers in 2019 (Table 2.26).  This represents an increase of 4% from the 2018 total of 276 thousand green tonnes. 

thousand green tonnes 
Year 
< 1 
1 - <5 
5 - <10 
10+ 
Total 
2010 
7 
63 
86 
213 
369 
2011 
8 
65 
60 
250 
383 
2012 
8 
57 
69 
226 
360 
2013 
7 
57 
79 
204 
346 
2014 
7 
54 
74 
201 
335 
2015 
6 
46 
79 
185 
316 
2016 
7 
41 
78 
177 
303 
2017 
6 
45 
71 
185 
307 
2018 
6 
37 
71 
162 
276 
2019 
6 
40 
76 
166 
288 

 
Source: Survey of Round Fencing Manufacturers Notes: 1. Categories are based on total softwood consumption, in thousand green tonnes. 2. This table includes purchases of both UK grown and imported softwood, whereas table 2.24 

relates to UK grown softwood only. 
 Data: Longer time series of roundwood purchased by round fencing manufacturers, by size category and by country (England/ Wales/ Scotland/ Northern Ireland) are available from the Data downloads web page at: https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-andresources/statistics/data-downloads/.  

## 2.8 Exports

UK softwood exports in 2019 consisted of 154 thousand green tonnes of sawlogs and 46 thousand green tonnes of industrial roundwood (excluding sawlogs), giving a total of 201 thousand green tonnes of roundwood (Table 2.27).  The quantity of softwood roundwood exports decreased by 24% between 2018 and 2019. The UK also exported 109 thousand tonnes of softwood chips in 2019, a 3% decrease from the previous year. 

thousand green tonnes 
Year 
Industrial 
roundwood1 
Sawlogs 
Total 
roundwood 
Chips 
2010 
301 
166 
467 
136 
2011 
415 
171 
585 
158 
2012 
405 
130 
535 
142 
2013 
379 
260 
640 
126 
2014 
228 
209 
437 
151 
2015 
75 
202 
276 
86 
2016 
48 
183 
231 
51 
2017 
124 
207 
331 
92 
2018 
67 
197 
264 
112 
2019 
46 
154 
201 
109 

 
Source: industry associations Notes: 1. Includes all roundwood other than sawlogs. 


## 2.9 Certification

Forest certification assesses forest management practices against an agreed standard and awards a label to those forest products that meet the standard. In order for products to achieve certification, both forest management practices and the Chain of Custody, which tracks timber from forest to retail outlet, must be assessed. The following tables provide information on the level of certified wood produced in the UK (Table 2.28) and the number of sawmills and round fencing manufacturers holding Chain of Custody certificates (Table 2.29). Estimates of the certified softwood removals in the UK by country, are also provided (Table 2.28a). As these figures are relatively new and the quality of data at this level is still improving, these estimates are currently labelled as experimental statistics. Information on areas of certified woodland is provided in Chapter 1. 


## 2.9.1 Volume Certified

70% of private sector softwood removals in 2019 were from certified woodlands (Table 2.28).  The percentage of private sector softwood removals that are certified has fluctuated over recent years; industry experts have indicated a general reduction in the level of certification amongst smaller estates and an increase in production from larger estates. As nearly all removals from Forestry England, Forestry and Land Scotland, Natural Resources Wales and Forest Service woodland are certified, this equates to around 82% of all softwood removals in 2019 from certified sources. 77% of sawmills' roundwood consumption in 2019 was certified.  For round fencing manufacturers, 69% of total softwood consumption was certified. 

| Softwood      | Consumption    |
|---------------|----------------|
| Consumption   |                |
| removals      | Total          |
| (softwood) by |                |
| Year          | from private   |
| round fencing |                |
| sector        | removals       |
| 1             |                |
|               | hardwood)      |
| manufacturers |                |
| woodland      | by sawmills    |
| 2010          | 73             |
| 2011          | 72             |
| 2012          | 70             |
| 2013          | 76             |
| 2014          | 72             |
| 2015          | 69             |
| 2016          | 66             |
| 2017          | 75             |
| 2018          | 71             |
| 2019          | 70             |

 
Source: Forestry England (FE), Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS), Natural Resources Wales (NRW), Forest Service (FS) and industry surveys Notes: 1. Includes all removals from FE/FLS/NRW/FS woodland. 



Experimental statistics providing a country breakdown of softwood removals from certified woodlands in 2019 indicate that 91% of softwood removals from woodlands in Northern Ireland were certified, 87% from Wales, 86% from Scotland and 70% from England. 

per cent certified volume 
Total softwood 
Country 
Softwood removals from 
Private sector woodland 
removals2 
England 
48 
70 
Wales 
73 
87 
Scotland 
78 
86 
Northern Ireland 
17 
91 
UK 
70 
82 

 
Source: Forestry England (FE), Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS), Natural Resources Wales (NRW), Forest Service (FS) and industry surveys Notes: 1. These figures are currently experimental statistics. 2. Includes all removals from FE/FLS/NRW/FS woodland. 


## 2.9.2 Chain Of Custody Certificates

Sawmills and round fencing manufacturers were also asked whether they held a Chain of Custody certificate.  71% of sawmills for which the certification status was known held a Chain of Custody certificate in 2019 (Table 2.29). This proportion varied with size of mill, from 20% for mills producing less than 5 thousand m3 sawnwood to 100% for those producing 25 thousand m3 sawnwood or more.  Around two thirds (69%) of round fencing manufacturers for which the certification status was known held a Chain of Custody certificate. 

number of mills 
Mills 
Mills 
Certification 
Mills 
holding 
without 
status not 
Total1 
certificate 
certificate 
known 
Sawmills2 (size of mill3) 
  
 
  
 
< 5 
4 
16 
71 
91 
5 - < 25 
20 
4 
9 
33 
25 + 
26 
0 
0 
26 
All sawmills 
50 
20 
80 
150 
Round fencing manufacturers 
11 
5 
30 
46 

 
Source: industry surveys Notes: 1. Includes non-respondents to survey in current year. 

2. For large sawmills (those producing at least 25 thousand m3) that did not report whether or 
not they held a certificate or did not respond to the 2019 survey, the certification status was obtained from the FSC database, where possible. 
3. Categories are based on total sawnwood production (softwood and hardwood), in thousand 
m3. 

## 2.10 Woodfuel And Pellets

Wood from various sources can be used for fuel, including roundwood, chips and sawdust from wood processing, specific products such as pellets and briquettes, and recycled wood. The following pages provide data on: 

- recycled wood used for woodfuel (Table 2.30 below); - woodfuel supply by sawmills and round fencing manufacturers (Table 
2.31); and  
- wood pellet production (Table 2.32) and feedstock (Table 2.33).  
In addition, estimates of roundwood used directly for woodfuel are provided in tables 2.5 and 2.6. 


## 2.10.1 Recycled Wood Used For Woodfuel

Estimates of recycled wood used for woodfuel have been obtained from the Wood Recyclers' Association. In 2019, it is estimated that around 2.4 million tonnes of recycled wood were used for woodfuel, an increase of 14% from the 2018 estimate of around 2.1 million tonnes. 

|   Year  |   Total  |
|---------|----------|
|   2010  |     0.55 |
|   2011  |     0.59 |
|   2012  |     0.76 |
|   2013  |     0.83 |
|   2014  |     1.34 |
|   2015  |     1.45 |
|   2016  |     1.55 |
|   2017  |     1.66 |
|   2018  |     2.1  |
|   2019  |     2.39 |

 
Source: Wood Recyclers Association Notes: 

1. Post consumer recovered wood, comprising wood originally grown in the UK and wood 
originally grown in forests outside the UK. 
2. Figures from 2014 relate to capacity, rather than consumption. 3. Quantities are as delivered, with an assumed average moisture content of 25%.  To 
convert to green tonnes (assuming moisture content of 52%), multiply by 1.56. 
 These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics. 


## 2.10.2 Woodfuel Supply By Sawmills And Round Fencing Manufacturers

An estimated 752 thousand green tonnes (mainly softwood) of woodfuel were supplied by sawmills in 2019 and a further 77 thousand green tonnes were supplied by round fencing manufacturers (Table 2.31).  Around two thirds (69%) of the total woodfuel supplied was sold to bioenergy. 

thousand green tonnes 
Sales as 
Used internally 
 
Sales to 
bioenergy 
firewood 
for heat/ energy 
Total 
Sawmills 
  
 
  
 
2015 
612 
12 
45 
669 
2016 
581 
14 
65 
660 
2017 
620 
15 
96 
731 
2018 
633 
7 
152 
792 
2019 
528 
17 
206 
752 
Round fencing manufacturers 
  
  
  
  
2015 
51 
7 
2 
60 
2016 
57 
7 
1 
65 
2017 
55 
7 
3 
66 
2018 
52 
8 
4 
65 
2019 
43 
10 
25 
77 

 
Source: Sawmill Survey, Survey of Round Fencing Manufacturers Notes: 1. Material reported as sales/use for woodfuel but may have been used for other purposes. 


## 2.10.3 Wood Pellets

Wood pellets and briquettes are processed wood products that can be made from roundwood, sawmill products and/or recycled wood.  Some of the wood used to make wood pellets and briquettes will be accounted for elsewhere in this release (e.g. in Tables 2.30 and 2.31).  Wood pellets and briquettes are often used for woodfuel, but pellets may also be used for other purposes (such as horse bedding or cat litter). A total of 298 thousand tonnes of wood pellets and briquettes are estimated to have been produced in the UK in 2019. This represents a 7% increase from the 2018 estimate of 279 thousand tonnes. 

thousand tonnes 
Year 
Total 
2010 
197 
2011 
244 
2012 
278 
2013 
301 
2014 
354 
2015 
343 
2016 
329 
2017 
287 
2018 
279 
2019 
298 

 
Source: Survey of UK Pellet and Briquette Production 


A total of 570 thousand tonnes of feedstock was used to produce wood pellets in the UK in 2019, a 16% decrease from the total for 2018 (Table 2.33). The overall decrease in feedstock reflects a change in the composition of pellets.  Roundwood fell by 32% in the latest year and accounted for over one half (54%) of the feedstock in 2019 (down from 67% in 2018). Correspondingly, there was a 16% increase in sawmill products and other feedstock. 

thousand tonnes2 
Year 
Roundwood 
Sawmill 
products1 
Total 
2015 
332 
290 
621 
2016 
377 
320 
697 
2017 
354 
295 
648 
2018 
453 
226 
679 
2019 
307 
263 
570 

 
Source: Survey of UK Pellet and Briquette Production Notes: 

1. May also include wood from other sources (e.g. energy crops, arboriculture arisings and 
recycled wood). 
2. Tonnes as delivered.