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In 2018, sawmills in the UK consumed a total of 6.7 million green tonnes of softwood, a 1% decrease from 2017 (Table 2.7).  A further 0.1 million green tonnes of hardwood were consumed by UK sawmills in 2018.  Most of the logs, 6.4 million green tonnes softwood and 0.1 million green tonnes hardwood, were grown in the UK.

A total of 3.7 million m3 of sawnwood was produced in the UK in 2018, a 1% decrease from 2017.

There has been an overall increase in the levels of softwood consumption and sawn softwood production in the UK between 2009 and 2018.

In addition to producing sawnwood, sawmills also generate other products. Further information on other products produced by larger mills are provided in Tables 2.18 and 2.18a.

Table 2.7 Consumption and production by UK sawmills, 2009-2018

Year Softwood    Hardwood   
consumption: thousand green tonnes, production: thousand m3 sawnwood        
  Consumption of   Production Consumption of   Production
  UK grown Imported Total   UK grown Imported Total  
2009 5133 158 5291 2809 76 19 95 48
2010 5616 103 5719 3053 75 19 94 48
2011 5859 125 5984 3227 81 20 100 52
2012 6073 124 6198 3361 75 17 93 48
2013 6407 126 6532 3536 74 13 88 46
2014 6725 159 6884 3716 77 14 91 47
2015 6168 182 6350 3451 76 14 89 46
2016 6511 209 6720 3624 75 17 92 47
2017 6572 267 6838 3721 66 13 80 42
2018 6424 325 6749 3674 67 13 80 41

Source: Sawmill Survey

Additional resources

Sources chapter: Sawmill Survey