The global forest products sector recovered in 2024 after a steep drop the previous year, with modest growth recorded across most major product groups, according to a new report from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). International trade in wood and paper products regained momentum following a 14% overall decline in 2023. FAO’s statistics cover 77 product categories, 27 product groups, and over 245 countries and territories, presenting recent trends in trade and production for each of the main forest product groups.
Industrial roundwood removals—the total volume of wood harvested for uses other than energy—rose by 2% in 2024, although global trade declined by 1%. Global production of sawnwood such as planks, beams, and other manufactured timber products remained nearly unchanged but varied regionally, with trade in sawnwood recording no overall change compared to 2023. Wood-based panels grew for a second consecutive year, with global production expanding by 5%.
Wood pulp production climbed 3% to reach 189 million tonnes, while international trade expanded 2% 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 returned to 48 million tonnes in 2024, equal to the 2022 level.
“Forests support millions of livelihoods worldwide, and the number is set to rise as forests offer more economic opportunities in a growing range of industries, including sustainable wood production,” said FAO Director-General Dongyu Qu.
Different types of trees can be used for housing, shelter, heat, food, medicine, textiles, and buildings. Promoting the sustainable use of forests is also part of Sustainable Development Goal 15, a vision countries have agreed to.
When sustainably used, forests sustain life. Another recently published report by FAO assessing forest resources showed that the net loss of forest area has been reduced by more than half since the 1990s and that over 90% of forests are regenerating naturally.
