Skip to main content
Contact Us

Global production of wood products in 2017 totalled 486 million m3 of sawnwood, 404 million m3 of wood-based panels and 414 million tonnes of paper & paperboard (Table 9.5).

Europe produced around one third (34%) of all sawnwood in 2017 (mainly in EU countries), with around one quarter (28%) in Asia and a further quarter (27%) produced in North & Central America.  Overall, sawnwood production increased by 7% between 2015 and 2017, driven by increases in most regions.

Wood-based panels were more commonly produced in Asia, accounting for around three fifths (60%) of global production in 2017.  Around one fifth (22%) were produced in Europe (mainly EU countries) and 12% in North & Central America.  At a global level, wood-based panel production increased by 4% between 2015 and 2017, driven by increases in all regions.

Asia also accounted for almost one half (48%) of paper and paperboard production in 2017, with around one quarter (26%) in Europe and a further 21% in North & Central America. At a global level, paper and paperboard production increased by 2% between 2015 and 2017.

Table 9.5 Production of wood products by region, 1990-2017

Region 1990 2000 2010 2015 2017
Sawnwood (million m3)
    Europe
        UK 2 3 3 3 4
        EU-281 82 101 101 105 111
    Total Europe 149 130 139 150 165
    Africa 8 8 9 10 10
    Asia 105 61 86 124 137
    North and Central America 129 146 102 127 133
    Oceania 6 8 9 9 10
    South America 22 32 30 31 30
    World 419 385 376 452 486
Wood-based panels (million m3)
    Europe
        UK 2 3 3 3 3
        EU-281 36 52 57 59 64
    Total Europe 48 59 71 79 88
    Africa 2 1 2 2 3
    Asia 27 46 143 238 243
    North and Central America 44 61 42 48 50
    Oceania 2 3 3 3 3
    South America 4 8 15 16 17
    World 126 178 275 387 404
Paper & paperboard (million tonnes)
    Europe
        UK 5 7 4 4 4
        EU-281 63 90 95 92 93
    Total Europe 74 100 106 104 106
    Africa 3 4 4 4 3
    Asia 57 95 170 191 197
    North and Central America 92 111 94 89 88
    Oceania 3 4 4 4 4
    South America 8 11 15 15 16
    World 235 325 392 406 414

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

Tools & Resources
In this section
Tools & Resources