Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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December 24, 2025 Economic development
The global forest products sector began to recover in 2024 after a sharp decline the year before, according to a new report released Wednesday by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
FAO statistics cover 77 product categories, 27 commodity groups, and more than 245 countries and territories. The report presents current trends in trade and production of major forest products.
According to the UN agency, international trade in wood and paper products has regained momentum, with most major commodity groups reporting moderate growth. This recovery follows a 14 percent decline in overall trade in wood and paper products in 2023.
Industrial timber harvesting volumes increased by two percent in 2024, although global trade volumes declined by one percent. Global production volumes of sawn timber—boards, beams, and other processed wood products—remained virtually unchanged. Trade in sawn timber also remained at 2023 levels.
Wood panel production grew for the second consecutive year, increasing by five percent. Wood pulp supply increased by three percent to 189 million tonnes, while international trade in this product grew by two percent, reaching a record 73 million tonnes. Wood pellet production, which has rapidly increased in recent decades thanks to the development of bioenergy in Europe, the Republic of Korea, and Japan, returned to 48 million tonnes in 2024, the same level as in 2022, after a slight decline in 2023.
“Forests provide livelihoods for millions of people around the world, and this number will grow as forests offer increasing economic opportunities in various sectors, including sustainable timber production,” said FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu.
A recent FAO Forest Resources Assessment report found that net forest area loss has more than halved since the 1990s, with more than 90 percent of forests regenerating naturally.
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