Skip to main content
Contact Us

Sawmills were asked to estimate the quantity of other products (excluding sawnwood) that they generated from softwood and sold to different industries.  The figures presented below are based on these estimates.

Other softwood products amounted to 3.0 million tonnes in 2017 (Table 2.15).  Two fifths (40%) of other softwood products were sold to wood processing industries in the form of chips and 16% were sold to these industries in sawdust and other formats (Table 2.18). A further 22% of other products were sold to bio-energy (including pellet manufacturers) and 19% were sold to others.

Table 2.18 Larger mills1, 2017: other softwood products

Destination and type of product2 England Wales Scotland Northern Ireland UK
per cent of total other softwood products     
Sold to wood processing industries          
Wood chips 45 57 42 0 40
Bark 0 1 0 0 0
Sawdust & other 19 23 17 0 16
Total 63 81 59 0 56
Sold to bio-energy (incl pellet manufacturers)          
Wood chips 9 5 14 56 16
Bark 0 0 0 4 1
Sawdust & other 0 0 6 19 5
Total 9 5 19 80 22
Other sales          
Wood chips 9 0 6 13 7
Bark 9 9 8 7 8
Sawdust & other 8 3 3 0 4
Total 26 12 18 20 19

Source: Sawmill Survey (detailed)

Notes:

1. Sawmills producing at least 25 thousand cubic metres of sawnwood (softwood and hardwood).

2. The table does not show internal use for heat/energy, sales of firewood and other products disposed of as waste, which together accounted for around 3% of other softwood products.

The proportions of other products that were sold to wood processing industries has reduced over the last five years, whilst other sales have increased (Table 2.18a).

Table 2.18a Larger mills1, 2013-2017: other softwood products

Year Destination    Total
  Sold to wood
processing industries
Sold to bio-energy
(incl pellet manufacturers)
Other sales Other2  
per cent of total other softwood products     
2013 62 21 16 2 100
2014 59 22 17 3 100
2015 60 21 17 2 100
2016 58 21 19 2 100
2017 56 22 19 3 100

Source: Sawmill Survey (detailed)

Notes:

1. Sawmills producing at least 25 thousand cubic metres of sawnwood (softwood and hardwood).

2. Other includes internal use for heat/energy, sales of firewood and other products disposed of as waste.

Additional resources

Sources chapter: Sawmill Survey

Tools & Resources
In this section
Tools & Resources