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Apparent consumption (defined as production + imports – exports) of wood products around the world totalled 459 million m3 sawnwood, 407 million m3 wood-based panels and 406 million tonnes of paper and paperboard in 2016 (Table 9.6).

Almost two fifths (38%) of all sawnwood in 2016 was consumed in Asia and around one quarter each in Europe (24%) and in North & Central America (27%).  Reflecting the increased production of sawnwood (see Table 9.5), apparent consumption of sawnwood increased by 3% overall between 2015 and 2016. This was driven by increases in apparent consumption in most regions.

Asia consumed around three fifths (62%) of the world’s wood-based panels in 2016, around one fifth (19%) was consumed in Europe and 14% in North & Central America.  Apparent consumption of wood-based panels worldwide increased by 4% between 2015 and 2016, largely resulting from increased demand in Asia and (to a lesser extent) Europe.

Around one half (49%) of all paper and paperboard in 2016 was consumed in Asia, around one quarter (23%) in Europe and a further one fifth (21%) in North & Central America. At a global level, apparent consumption of paper and paperboard increased by 1% between 2015 and 2016.

Table 9.6 Apparent consumption of wood products by region, 1990-2016

Region 1990 2000 2010 2015 2016
Sawnwood (million m3)          
Europe          
UK 13 10 9 10 10
EU-281 96 100 90 89 92
Total Europe 158 121 110 107 109
Africa 10 10 17 19 17
Asia 112 77 116 169 176
North and Central America 119 143 95 119 124
Oceania 6 8 8 8 8
South America 20 27 26 25 24
World 426 386 372 446 459
Wood-based panels (million m3)          
Europe          
UK 5 6 6 6 6
EU-281 40 53 55 58 61
Total Europe 52 59 69 75 78
Africa 1 2 4 5 5
Asia 25 54 146 239 250
North and Central America 44 65 50 55 56
Oceania 2 3 3 4 4
South America 3 6 14 15 14
World 127 189 286 393 407
Paper & paperboard (million tonnes)          
Europe          
UK 9 12 11 9 9
EU-281 62 84 85 80 80
Total Europe 71 90 95 91 92
Africa 4 5 7 8 8
Asia 62 103 178 196 199
North and Central America 88 110 91 86 87
Oceania 3 5 5 4 4
South America 8 12 16 17 17
World 236 325 391 403 406

Source: FAO.

Notes:

1. Cyprus is included in EU-28 total but is part of FAO’s Asia region.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter.

Additional resources

Sources chapter: International Forestry

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