Forest products rebound in 2024 after global trade slump

Pahmung krui Damar Forest by Eka Fendiaspara, Indonesia. One of the winners of the International Forest Photograph Contest.

From wood-based panels used in construction to charcoal for cooking, forest products are valued and traded worldwide.

The global forest products sector showed signs of recovery in 2024 following a steep decline the previous year, according to a new report released on Wednesday by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

FAO’s statistics cover 77 product categories, 27 product groups, and more than 245 countries and territories. The report presents recent trade trends and data for each of the main forest product groups.

Global international trade in wood and paper products regained momentum, with modest growth recorded across most major product groups, FAO said. The upswing followed a 14 per cent overall drop in trade of wood and paper products in 2023.

Industrial roundwood removals—referring to the total volume of wood harvested for uses other than energy—rose by two per cent in 2024, although global trade in roundwood declined by one per cent.

Global production of sawnwood, such as planks, beams, and other manufactured timber products, remained nearly unchanged overall but varied by region. Trade in sawnwood showed no overall change compared to 2023.

Wood-based panels grew for a second consecutive year, with global production expanding by five per cent.

Wood pulp production increased by three per cent to reach 189 million tonnes, while international trade rose by two per cent to an all-time high of 73 million tonnes.

Wood pellets have seen extraordinary growth in recent decades, mainly driven by bioenergy targets in Europe, the Republic of Korea, and Japan. After a slight dip in 2023, global production rebounded to 48 million tonnes in 2024, matching the 2022 level.

Why it matters
Different types of trees are used for housing, shelter, heat, food, medicine, and even textiles and construction.

“Forests support millions of livelihoods worldwide, and this number is set to rise as forests offer more economic opportunities across a growing range of industries, including sustainable wood production,” said FAO Director-General Dongyu Qu.

Promoting the sustainable use of forests is also a key part of Sustainable Development Goal 15, agreed upon by countries worldwide.

When managed sustainably, forests sustain life. Another recent FAO report assessing forest resources found that net forest area loss has been reduced by more than half since the 1990s, and that over 90 per cent of forests are regenerating naturally.