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Timber Statistics

The timber statistics listed below include figures on production and trade in wood and wood products. Timber price indices can be accessed from the left-hand menu.

Latest figures

Provisional results for 2012 were published in UK Wood Production and Trade: 2012 provisional results on 16 May 2013. The publication includes information on the sources and methodology used to produce the figures.

Standing timber volume figures for coniferous trees in Great Britain, as well as provisional figures for broadleaved trees, have been published using data from the National Forest Inventory (NFI). More information can be found on the National Forest Inventory pages.

Next update

Forestry Statistics 2013 (to be published on 26 September 2013) will provide final figures for 2012. Summary results will available in Forestry Facts and Figures 2013 (to be published on the same day).

Data from the NFI was used to produce 25-year forecasts of the potential timber volume arising from future felling and thinning operations. More information can be found on the National Forest Inventory pages.

Time series data

Longer time series data for wood production (roundwood removals), for 1976 to 2012 (provisional), are available in EXCEL spreadsheet and PDF formats. The data are broken down by:

  • England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, GB and UK;
  • Softwood and hardwood;
  • Forestry Commission/Forest Service (FC/FS) and non-FC/FS.

Time series data for UK roundwood deliveries, for 1994 to 2012 (provisional), are available in EXCEL spreadsheet and PDF formats. The data cover softwood deliveries and hardwood deliveries.

Time series data for UK sawmills, for 1994 to 2012 (provisional), are available in EXCEL spreadsheet and PDF formats. The data cover number of mills, consumption of softwood and production of sawn softwood and are broken down by:

  • England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and UK;
  • Size of mill.

In addition, time series data by region are available for sawmills in England: EXCEL spreadsheet  PDF version

Time series data for UK round fencing manufacturers, for 1999 to 2012 (provisional), are available in EXCEL spreadsheet and PDF. The data cover number of manufacturers and softwood consumption and are broken down by:

  • England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and UK;
  • Size of mill;
  • Source of softwood (UK grown/Imported).

Methodology

A review of the methodology used to estimate the quantity of UK softwood removals from woodland that is not owned or managed by the Forestry Commission (in Great Britain) or the Forest Service (in Northern Ireland) was undertaken in 2011-2012.

The paper Methodology Review of Softwood Removals from Non-FC/ FS Woodlandpresents the results from this review and the implications of the change in methodology.

UK Wood Production and Trade: 2011 provisional figures is the first release where the new methodology was used.

Quality

Please see our quality report or refer to our quality pages.

Revisions

Please see the Annex of UK Wood Production and Trade: 2012 provisional results or refer to our revisions policy.

Further information

The statistics on timber and trade are also used to compile the UK’s Joint Forest Sector Questionnaire (JFSQ) and UNECE Timber Committee (TC) returns for international organisations.

These timber and trade statistics are produced with the assistance and advice of the Expert Group on Timber and Trade Statistics.

These statistics include some data on woodfuel. More information can be found on the woodfuel page.

Release schedule & previous releases

Early provisional results are provided in the First Release UK Wood Production and Trade (provisional figures), published every May.

The final results are published every September in Foresty Statistics, and summarised in Forestry Facts and Figures.

User engagement

In order to improve the statistics that we produce and to ensure that they remain relevant, we are interested in hearing from people who use our statistics. More information on how we consult users and contact details can be found on our user engagement page.