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In 2017, deliveries of UK roundwood (softwood and hardwood) totalled 11.2 million green tonnes, a 2% increase from the previous year (Tables 2.5 and 2.6).

Most UK roundwood deliveries (93%) were softwood and totalled 10.5 million green tonnes in 2017 (Table 2.5). 6.6 million green tonnes (63% of UK softwood deliveries) were used by sawmills, a 1% increase from the previous year.  A further 1.6 million green tonnes were used for wood fuel (3% increase), 1.1 million green tonnes were used to produce wood-based panels (15% decrease), 0.4 million green tonnes by integrated pulp and paper mills (a 4% increase), and 0.8 million green tonnes for other uses (16% increase), including round fencing, shavings and exports of roundwood.

The increase in softwood deliveries for woodfuel in recent years reflects an increase in wood use for heating and energy production in the UK (see the Sources’ chapter for further information).

Table 2.5 Deliveries of UK-grown softwood, 2008-2017

Year Sawmills Pulp mills Wood-based
panels
Fencing Woodfuel1 Other2 Exports Total
thousand green tonnes
2008 4933 515 1219 359 300 128 733 8187
2009 5133 511 1135 367 650 160 347 8304
2010 5616 428 1375 349 900 135 467 9269
2011 5859 453 1417 363 900 145 585 9722
2012 6073 461 1269 338 1000 154 535 9831
2013 6407 465 1263 332 1250 191 640 10547
2014 6725 465 1283 317 1500 176 437 10903
2015 6168 435 1334 288 1600 164 276 10265
2016 6511 423 1248 277 1550 178 231 10419
2017 6581 442 1059 295 1600 170 331 10478

Source: industry surveys, industry associations.

Notes:

1. Woodfuel derived from stemwood, includes estimates of roundwood use for biomass energy. The figures are estimated by the Expert Group on Timber and Trade Statistics, and make use of woodfuel data reported in the Private Sector Softwood Removals Survey.

2. Includes shavings and poles. Quantities for some uses are estimates by the Expert Group on Timber and Trade Statistics.

       

Figure 2.1 Deliveries of UK-grown softwood, 1994-2017

FS2018 Fig 2.1

Source: industry surveys, industry associations.

Experimental statistics on the destination of softwood (wood from conifer trees) removed from UK forests by country are available in the Excel spreadsheets that accompany this report.

Additional resources

Sources chapter: Timber

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