Scotland's forests are the most productive in the UK. Their timber feeds a world-class wood processing industry.
View a map of the major processing sites in Scotland (PDF 2.5 Mb).
What contribution does the sector make to Scotland's economy?
Together, timber and wood processing contribute around £650 million each year to the Scottish economy - roughly 1% of Scotland's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Over 100 mills – sawmills, panel mills and a paper mill – employ more than 3,000 people in Scotland. Add to that 7,500 jobs in forest management and wood haulage, and the sector plays a significant role in the rural economy.
More information on sawmills is in the British Sawmill Survey (2000) (PDF 202k).
In 1999, a report was commissioned to assess the impact of the sector on the Scottish economy, and its findings are still relevant. Read the summary of the report into the forestry sector's contribution to the Scottish economy.
Evidence of growth
The Scottish Hardwood Survey 2004 (PDF 159k) highlighted the continued growth and success of the small scale hardwood processing sector in Scotland.
See also: procuring sustainable timber.
