Skip to main content
Contact Us

Wood product imports in 2017 were valued at a total of £7.8 billion, a 5% increase from 2016 (Table 3.6).

Pulp and paper (including recovered paper) imports were valued at £4.0 billion in 2017 (almost half of the total value of wood product imports).  Sawnwood imports were valued at £1.6 billion in 2017, wood-based panels at £1.1 billion and wood pellets at £1.0 billion.

Table 3.6 UK import values, 2008-20171

Year Sawnwood5 Wood-based panels4 Other wood2 Wood pellets3 Paper Pulp Recovered paper Total pulp & paper Total
£ million         
2008 1085 873 158 .. 3655 608 10 4273 6389
2009 953 677 104 7 3635 425 11 4071 5811
2010 1199 781 110 69 3997 593 17 4607 6765
2011 1080 838 79 129 4049 613 34 4696 6822
2012 1084 791 75 185 3727 519 21 4266 6402
2013 1180 882 88 412 3644 500 21 4165 6727
2014 1420 936 80 547 3667 509 19 4196 7180
2015 1311 957 88 780 3711 642 23 4375 7510
2016 1423 1010 93 915 3434 557 13 4003 7444
2017 1636 1083 97 961 3418 572 14 4004 7780

Source: UK overseas trade statistics (HM Revenue & Customs), industry associations

Notes:

1. There are reliability concerns for some of these figures, particularly for individual products (see Sources chapter).

2. Includes roundwood, wood charcoal, chips, particles, residues and, from 2017, includes recovered wood. Excludes wood pellets from 2009.

3. .. Denotes data not available (wood pellets included within ‘Other wood’ category before 2009).

4. Includes veneer sheets.

5. Sawnwood includes sleepers from 2017.

Additional resources

Sources chapter: Trade

Tools & Resources
In this section
Tools & Resources