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Comparison of removals and deliveries of UK softwood roundwood

The table below provides a comparison between the figures for removals (obtained from Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Wales, Forest Service and Private Sector Removals Survey) and deliveries (obtained from industry surveys and trade associations) of UK softwood roundwood.

The estimated total for softwood removals in the UK in recent years has been at least 0.3 million green tonnes higher than the estimate for total UK softwood deliveries. At least some of this difference may indicate a possible undercounting of deliveries, particularly for roundwood that is used directly for woodfuel.

Comparison of removals and deliveries of UK softwood roundwood, 2007-2016

Year FC/NRW/FS removals Private sector removals Total removals Deliveries Balance1
thousand green tonnes
2007 4653 4083 8736 8790 -54
2008 4415 3823 8238 8187 51
2009 5126 3266 8392 8304 88
2010 4625 4633 9258 9269 -11
2011 4870 5186 10056 9722 334
2012 4836 5282 10118 9831 287
2013 5084 5881 10965 10547 417
2014 4900 6628 11528 10903 625
2015 4691 5968 10659 10263 395
2016 5011 5716 10727 10419 308

Source: Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Wales, Forest Service, industry surveys, industry associations

Notes:

1. The difference between reported removals and deliveries can be caused by variations in the level of stocks between harvesting and delivery to the wood processor, and/or by the differences in data sources and methodologies used to compile removals and deliveries statistics.

The methodology used to estimate the quantity of UK softwood removals from private woodland was revised for the release of provisional 2011 estimates in “UK Wood Production and Trade: 2011 provisional figures”. Details of the change in methodology and its impact on the figures are available in the “Methodology Review of Softwood Removals from Non-FC/FS Woodland” paper, available at: rem_methodology_rev2011-12.pdf.

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