From the vast Siberian taiga to bustling ports in Vietnam, the global timber industry moves nearly two billion cubic meters of wood each year through an intricate and often hidden supply chain that is crucial to our economy, construction, and environmental future.
Key Takeaways
- Global timber production reached 1.92 billion cubic meters in 2021, with softwood accounting for 54%
- The United States harvested 11.5 billion cubic feet of timber in 2022, primarily from private lands comprising 57% of the total
- Canada's annual timber harvest volume was 160 million cubic meters in 2021, led by British Columbia at 75 million cubic meters
- Global sawnwood production hit 540 million cubic meters in 2022, with North America at 25%
- US sawmills processed 35 billion board feet in 2022, down 5% from 2021 peak
- Canada's lumber production was 24 million cubic meters in Q4 2022, utilizing 85% capacity
- Global transportation of timber logs by truck accounted for 60% of inland movement in 2022
- In the US, 80% of timber harvest is transported by truck, averaging 100 miles to mills in 2022
- Canada's rail transport of wood products moved 15 million tons annually pre-2023
- Global timber trade value hit $150 billion in 2022, 50% sawnwood
- US timber exports reached 5.5 billion board feet in 2022, to China 20%
- China's wood imports totaled 55 million cubic meters in 2022, Russia 30%
- Timber industry contributes 1% to global GDP, $600B value in 2022
- 13% of global forests certified sustainable (FSC/PEFC) in 2023, covering 450M ha
- Illegal logging accounts for 15-30% of global timber trade, $30-100B annually
The global timber industry is vast, complex, and increasingly focused on sustainable supply chains.
Harvesting and Production
- Global timber production reached 1.92 billion cubic meters in 2021, with softwood accounting for 54%
- The United States harvested 11.5 billion cubic feet of timber in 2022, primarily from private lands comprising 57% of the total
- Canada's annual timber harvest volume was 160 million cubic meters in 2021, led by British Columbia at 75 million cubic meters
- Brazil's legal timber harvest from Amazon reached 15 million cubic meters in 2022, representing 20% of national production
- Russia's timber harvest totaled 226 million cubic meters in 2021, with Siberia contributing 65%
- In 2022, EU timber production was 450 million cubic meters, with Sweden leading at 80 million cubic meters
- Indonesia harvested 90 million cubic meters of logs in 2021, 70% from natural forests
- Australia's timber production stood at 25 million cubic meters in 2022, with plantations supplying 40%
- China produced 80 million cubic meters of industrial roundwood in 2021, relying on imports for 60% of demand
- New Zealand's radiata pine harvest reached 32 million cubic meters in 2022, 95% from plantations
- Finland's annual timber harvest averaged 75 million cubic meters in 2021-2022, with private forests at 60%
- Germany's sawlog production was 45 million cubic meters in 2022, up 5% from prior year
- Vietnam exported 6.5 million cubic meters of logs in 2021, sourced from 2 million hectares of plantations
- South Africa's timber harvest was 14 million cubic meters in 2022, with eucalyptus at 55%
- India's timber production from forests was 5 million cubic meters in 2021, supplemented by 20 million from farms
- In the US, Douglas-fir accounted for 25% of softwood harvest volume at 2.9 billion cubic feet in 2022
- Sweden harvested 70 million cubic meters of wood in 2022, with spruce comprising 45%
- Global plantation timber supply grew to 45% of total production by 2022, up from 35% in 2010
- Chile's pine harvest reached 20 million cubic meters in 2021, from 2.5 million hectares of plantations
- Ukraine's timber harvest dropped to 12 million cubic meters in 2022 due to conflict, down 30%
- France produced 50 million cubic meters of timber in 2022, with oak logs at 10%
- Malaysia's log production was 18 million cubic meters in 2021, 80% from Sabah and Sarawak
- US national forest timber harvest was 1.2 billion board feet in FY2022
- Poland's timber harvest totaled 45 million cubic meters in 2022, led by pine at 70%
- Global sawlog harvest share was 40% of total industrial roundwood in 2021
- Austria harvested 20 million cubic meters in 2022, with spruce dominant at 60%
- Peru's Amazon timber harvest was 1.2 million cubic meters in 2021, 90% exported
- Latvia produced 12 million cubic meters of timber in 2022, up 10% YoY
- Estonia's harvest volume reached 14 million cubic meters in 2022, from 2.3 million ha forests
- Lithuania harvested 10 million cubic meters in 2021, with private owners at 50%
Harvesting and Production Interpretation
The world still runs on wood, as evidenced by a global supply chain that stitches together a vast and varied landscape, from vast private forests and sprawling plantations to conflict-impacted regions and protected public lands, all feeding an insatiable demand for timber.
Processing and Milling
- Global sawnwood production hit 540 million cubic meters in 2022, with North America at 25%
- US sawmills processed 35 billion board feet in 2022, down 5% from 2021 peak
- Canada's lumber production was 24 million cubic meters in Q4 2022, utilizing 85% capacity
- China's wood panel production reached 300 million cubic meters in 2022, 50% plywood
- EU sawmilling output was 140 million cubic meters in 2022, Germany at 25 million
- Brazil produced 40 million cubic meters of sawnwood in 2021, exported 10%
- Russia's sawnwood production was 36 million cubic meters in 2022, down 15% due to sanctions
- India's plywood production hit 5 million cubic meters in 2022, with MDF at 3 million
- Sweden's sawmills produced 16.5 million cubic meters in 2022, recovery rate 48%
- Vietnam's wood processing exports reached $15 billion in 2022, from 1,500 factories
- US veneer and plywood mills output was 4.5 billion sq ft in 2022
- Germany's wood-based panel production was 28 million cubic meters in 2022, particleboard 55%
- Indonesia's plywood production totaled 7 million cubic meters in 2021, 90% exported
- Finland processed 11 million cubic meters into sawnwood in 2022, export ratio 70%
- Australia's engineered wood products grew 10% to AUD 2.5 billion in 2022
- Chile's sawnwood production was 5.5 million cubic meters in 2022, pine 95%
- Turkey imported 5 million cubic meters of logs for processing into 3 million sawnwood in 2022
- New Zealand exported 3.2 million cubic meters of sawnwood in 2022, value NZD 5 billion
- South Korea's wood pellet production for export hit 5 million tons in 2022
- Poland's sawmill production reached 12 million cubic meters in 2022, up 8%
- Global pulp production was 180 million tons in 2022, with chemical pulp 90%
- US oriented strand board (OSB) production was 25 billion sq ft in 2022
- Malaysia processed 15 million cubic meters of logs into panels in 2022
- France's sawnwood output was 12 million cubic meters in 2022
- Global cross-laminated timber (CLT) production capacity reached 1 million cubic meters by 2023
- Austria's particleboard production was 4.5 million cubic meters in 2022
- Latvia produced 2.5 million cubic meters of pellets in 2022, export 95%
- US mill residue utilization rate was 92% in 2022, generating 50 million tons
Processing and Milling Interpretation
While the world's 540 million cubic meter mountain of sawnwood shows a firmly rooted industry, the branches tell a more dynamic story of regional swings—from North American cooling and Russian sanctions to Asia's panel dominance and Europe's efficiency drive—all underpinned by a relentless global push to use every last chip and splinter.
Sustainability and Environment
- Timber industry contributes 1% to global GDP, $600B value in 2022
- 13% of global forests certified sustainable (FSC/PEFC) in 2023, covering 450M ha
- Illegal logging accounts for 15-30% of global timber trade, $30-100B annually
- Global deforestation rate 10M ha/year 2015-2020, timber sector 20%
- Carbon sequestration by forests: 15.6 GtCO2/year, timber harvest offsets 10%
- EU timber regulation (EUTR) compliance rate 85% in 2022 audits
- US sustainable forestry: 89% of timberland certified or third-party verified in 2022
- Brazil Amazon deforestation down 22% in 2023, illegal timber 40% cause
- Global reforestation efforts planted 3 trillion trees goal by 2030, timber plantations 30%
- Indonesia's moratorium reduced deforestation 60% 2019-2022
- FSC-certified area grew 5% to 200M ha in 2022
- Timber industry water use: 20-40 m3 per m3 wood processed globally
- Global wood energy consumption: 1.8B cubic meters in 2021, 8% total energy
- Canada SFI program manages 260M acres sustainably in 2022
- EU Green Deal aims net-zero emissions from forests by 2050, timber 20% emissions
- Global biodiversity loss in timber zones: 20% species decline since 2000
- China's timber legality verification covers 80% imports by 2022
- Swedish forests 70% certified, CO2 sink 40M tons/year
- Vietnam's plantation expansion to 7M ha by 2025, reducing natural harvest 50%
- Global PEFC certified area: 320M ha in 2023, 70% Europe
- Timber harvesting emissions: 0.5-1 ton CO2e per m3, offset by growth 1.2 tons
- India's forest cover up 2% to 24% land 2021, community forestry 30%
- Russia's protected forests 20% of total, illegal logging fines $50M/year
- Global supply chain traceability tech adoption 40% in 2023, blockchain pilots
- Australia FSC plantations 1M ha, native harvest down 50% since 1990
- Chile CERTFOR certifies 90% plantations, export premium 5%
- Global wood recycling rate 56% in construction byproducts 2022
Sustainability and Environment Interpretation
We may manage a $600 billion industry, but with only 13% of forests certified and illegal logging draining up to $100 billion annually, our global supply chain is currently a house of cards built on a shrinking, 10-million-hectare-a-year foundation.
Trade and Export/Import
- Global timber trade value hit $150 billion in 2022, 50% sawnwood
- US timber exports reached 5.5 billion board feet in 2022, to China 20%
- China's wood imports totaled 55 million cubic meters in 2022, Russia 30%
- EU imported 45 million cubic meters sawnwood in 2022, US 25%
- Canada's lumber exports to US: 25 billion board feet in 2022, 85% of total
- Brazil exported 4 million cubic meters tropical hardwood in 2021, EU 40%
- Russia's wood exports dropped to 15 million cubic meters in 2022 due to bans
- Vietnam wood products exports: $15.5 billion in 2022, US 55%
- Indonesia banned raw log exports since 2014, furniture exports $2.5B in 2022
- India's timber imports: 2 million cubic meters in 2022, Myanmar 50%
- Germany's wood imports: 30 million cubic meters in 2022, Scandinavia 40%
- Sweden exported 14 million cubic meters sawnwood in 2022, UK 25%
- New Zealand log exports to China: 12 million JAS m3 in 2022, 80% radiata pine
- Chile pine exports: 3.5 million cubic meters sawnwood in 2022, China 60%
- Malaysia furniture exports: $1.8 billion in 2022, US 30%
- US imported 40 billion board feet softwood lumber in 2022, Canada 90%
- Japan's wood imports: 40 million cubic meters in 2022, US/Canada 50%
- South Korea imported 20 million cubic meters logs in 2022, Russia 40%
- Turkey wood imports: 6 million cubic meters in 2022, Romania 20%
- Global tropical log trade: 10 million cubic meters in 2022, down 20% from 2018
- Finland exported 8 million cubic meters sawnwood in 2022, China 35%
- Australia's wood exports: AUD 3 billion in 2022, mostly chips to Japan
- France imported 10 million cubic meters sawnwood in 2022, Sweden 30%
- Poland exported 5 million cubic meters pellets in 2022, UK 40%
- EU FLEGT-licensed imports: 90% of tropical timber in 2022
- Global certified timber trade (FSC/PEFC): 25% of volume in 2022
- Global forest product trade grew 3% to $240 billion in 2021, sawnwood 30%
Trade and Export/Import Interpretation
The world’s timber supply chain resembles a complex game of global Monopoly where Russia lands on sanctions, China builds a house on nearly every property, Canada quietly collects rent from the US, and everyone is scrambling for a FLEGT Get Out of Jail Free card.
Transportation and Logistics
- Global transportation of timber logs by truck accounted for 60% of inland movement in 2022
- In the US, 80% of timber harvest is transported by truck, averaging 100 miles to mills in 2022
- Canada's rail transport of wood products moved 15 million tons annually pre-2023
- EU timber imports by sea totaled 120 million cubic meters in 2022, 40% from Russia pre-sanctions
- Brazil's timber export logistics via ports handled 10 million cubic meters in 2021, Santos port 50%
- Global shipping rates for lumber containers rose 300% in 2021-2022 peak
- China's timber imports arrived 70% by sea, 500 million cubic meters in 2022, Shanghai/Qingdao main ports
- Russia's Trans-Siberian railway transported 20 million cubic meters of timber yearly pre-2022
- Vietnam's wood exports used Ho Chi Minh port for 60% volume, $14B in 2022
- US barge transport on Mississippi moved 5 million tons of wood chips in 2022
- Sweden's timber road transport averaged 50 km/h, 90% of volume in 2022
- Indonesia's inter-island barge fleet carried 8 million cubic meters of logs in 2021
- Global air freight for high-value timber <1%, but grew 20% in 2022 for specialty woods
- Finland's truck fleet for timber: 5,000 vehicles, 12 million cubic meters/year capacity
- Australia's rail network hauls 40% of log transport in Tasmania, 2 million tons/year
- Germany's inland waterways transported 10 million tons of wood products in 2022, Rhine 70%
- Chile's coastal shipping moved 4 million cubic meters south-north in 2022
- India’s timber logistics 90% road-based, congestion delays average 20% time
- New Zealand's log export ships from 20 ports totaled 18 million JAS m3 in 2022
- South Africa's truck transport costs 15% of log value, 12 million tons/year
- Global timber supply chain logistics costs averaged 10-15% of product value in 2022
- Poland's timber rail export to EU: 3 million cubic meters in 2022
- Malaysia's palm oil-timber combined barge traffic: 5 million tons/year
- France's fluvial transport: 8 million tons wood annually, Seine-Loire basins
- US West Coast ports handled 2 billion board feet lumber exports in 2022
- Turkey's Black Sea ports imported 4 million cubic meters logs via Ro-Ro ships in 2022
- Latvia's Riga port timber throughput: 5 million tons in 2022
- Baltic Sea timber shipping volume: 50 million cubic meters pre-2022, down 40%
Transportation and Logistics Interpretation
While trucks rule the road globally and rails carve their own vital paths, the true lifeblood of timber's global pulse is undeniably the sea, a fact made starkly clear not only by the staggering volumes flowing through ports from Shanghai to Santos but also by the world's collective wince when shipping rates tripled and a single geopolitical tremor could cut the Baltic's flow by nearly half.
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