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 2.8 million tonnes in 2018 (Table 2.15). Around one third (34%) of other softwood products were sold to wood processing industries in the form of chips and 12% were sold to these industries in sawdust and other formats (Table 2.18). A further 24% of other products were sold to bio-energy (including pellet manufacturers), 25% were sold to others and 5% were used internally for heat or energy.
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 | 32 | 56 | 36 | 0 | 34 |
Bark | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Sawdust & other | 14 | 22 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
Total | 46 | 78 | 48 | 0 | 46 |
Sold to bio-energy (incl pellet manufacturers) | |||||
Wood chips | 9 | 6 | 13 | 64 | 16 |
Bark | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 |
Sawdust & other | 0 | 0 | 8 | 21 | 7 |
Total | 10 | 6 | 20 | 95 | 24 |
Other sales | |||||
Wood chips | 20 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 10 |
Bark | 7 | 11 | 7 | 1 | 7 |
Sawdust & other | 11 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 8 |
Total | 37 | 15 | 25 | 5 | 25 |
Internal use for heat/energy | |||||
Wood chips | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
Bark | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
Sawdust & other | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total | 7 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 5 |
Source: Sawmill Survey (detailed)
Notes:
1. Sawmills producing at least 25 thousand m3 of sawnwood (softwood and hardwood).
2. The table does not show sales of firewood and other products disposed of as waste, which together accounted for less than 0.5% of other softwood products.
The proportions of other products that were reported as sold to wood processing industries has reduced over the last five years, whilst other sales have increased (Table 2.18a).
Year | Destination | Total2 | |||
Sold to wood processing industries |
Sold to bio-energy (incl pellet manufacturers) |
Other sales | Internal use for heat/ energy | ||
per cent of total other softwood products | |||||
2014 | 59 | 22 | 17 | 3 | 100 |
2015 | 60 | 21 | 17 | 2 | 100 |
2016 | 58 | 21 | 19 | 2 | 100 |
2017 | 56 | 22 | 19 | 3 | 100 |
2018 | 46 | 24 | 25 | 5 | 100 |
Source: Sawmill Survey (detailed)
Notes:
1. Sawmills producing at least 25 thousand m3 of sawnwood (softwood and hardwood).
2. Total includes sales of firewood and other products disposed of as waste.
Sources chapter: Sawmill Survey