Timber Price Indices and UK Wood Production and Trade statistics released

Timber Price Indices data (to March 2026) and 2025 provisional figures for UK Wood Production and Trade have been released.   

Sheila Ward, Head of Information and Statistics at Forest Research said: “The Timber Price Indices and provisional UK Wood Production and Trade statistics are important indicators used to monitor the state of the timber industry and timber prices. The data is also used by the timber industry, alongside other economic indicators, in contract reviews, as well as for reporting to international organisations.”

UK Wood Production and Trade – 2025 Provisional Figures 

Key provisional figures for 2025 indicate (with percentage changes from 2024):  

• Removals (harvesting) of UK roundwood: 

• • 9.5 million green tonnes of softwood (-4%) 

• • 0.9 million green tonnes of hardwood (8%)  

• Deliveries of UK roundwood to wood processors and others: 

• • Total: 10.4 million green tonnes of roundwood (softwood and hardwood) (0%), of which: 

• • • Sawmills: 5.4 million green tonnes (-1%) 

• • • Wood-based panels: 1.4 million green tonnes (9%) 

• • • Integrated pulp and paper mills: 0.3 million green tonnes (-4%) 

• • • Other uses, including round fencing, woodfuel, shavings and exports of roundwood: 3.2 million green tonnes (0%) 

• Production of wood products in the UK included: 

• • 3.3 million cubic metres of sawnwood (3%) 

• • 3.1 million cubic metres of wood-based panels (6%) 

• • 3.2 million tonnes of paper and paperboard (-3%) 

• • 0.3 million tonnes of wood pellets and briquettes (1%) 

• UK imports: 

• • 6.0 million cubic metres of sawnwood (-4%) 

• • 3.1 million cubic metres of wood-based panels (0%) 

• • 9.8 million tonnes of wood pellets (5%) 

• • 4.9 million tonnes of pulp and paper (-3%) 

• • The total value of wood product imports was £9.2 billion (0%) 

• UK exports: 

• • The total value of wood product exports was £1.7 billion (-4%) 

• Apparent consumption of wood products in the UK included: 

• • 9.1 million cubic metres of sawnwood (-3%) 

• • 5.9 million cubic metres of wood-based panels (4%) 

• • 10.1 million tonnes of wood pellets (5%) 

• • 6.3 million tonnes of paper (-7%) 

Most of the statistics are only available as UK totals, but some statistics can be broken down by country (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland). Accompanying tables on the Forest Research website provide longer time series data for wood production (roundwood removals), UK roundwood deliveries, sawmills and round fencing manufacturers, showing additional breakdowns where possible.  

To review the full report, visit UK Wood Production and Trade: provisional figures – Forest Research  

Timber Price Indices

This release contains the latest figures for the Coniferous Standing Sales Price Index, the Softwood Sawlog Price Index and the Small Roundwood Price Index for Great Britain. Each is based on sales to March 2026 and cover sales by Forestry England, Forestry and Land Scotland and Natural Resources Wales. The release also includes two sub-indices of the Softwood Sawlog index, covering spruces and other conifers.  

Key findings show: 

Overview: 

• In real terms (removing the effects of general inflation), the average price for coniferous standing sales in the year to March 2026 increased compared to the price at March 2025. 

• In real terms, the average softwood sawlog prices in the six months to March 2026 decreased compared with the corresponding period of the previous year. 

• In real terms, the average small roundwood prices in the six months to March 2026 increased compared to September 2025. 

• The changes in nominal terms (the actual prices at the time of sale) are covered below. 

Coniferous Standing Sales Price Index: 

• The index was 11.7% higher in real terms (15.7% higher in nominal terms) in the year to March 2026 compared with the previous year. 

• The average price for coniferous standing sales was £35.17 per cubic metre overbark standing in nominal terms in the year to March 2026, an increase from £31.16 in the year to March 2025. 

Softwood Sawlog Price Index: 

• The Softwood Sawlog Price Index was 31% lower in real terms (28.7% lower in nominal terms) in the six months to March 2026, compared with the corresponding period in the previous year. 

• The average price for softwood sawlog sales was £55.30 per cubic metre overbark in nominal terms in the six-month period to March 2026, a decrease from £59.70 in the six months to September 2025 and a decrease from £77.55 in the six months to March 2025. 

• The Spruce Sawlog Price Index and Other Conifer Sawlog Price Index were 40% lower and 1.8% lower, respectively, in real terms in the six months to March 2026 compared with the corresponding period of the previous year. 

Small Roundwood Price Index: 

• The Small Roundwood Price Index was 8.4% lower in real terms (5.3% lower in nominal terms) in the six months to March 2026, compared with the corresponding period of the previous year. 

• The average price for small roundwood sales was £45.87 per cubic metre overbark in nominal terms in the six-month period to March 2026, an increase from £44.55 in the six months to September 2025 and a decrease from £48.43 in the six months to March 2025. 

To review the full report, visit Timber Price Indices – Forest Research