121+ Wood Industry Statistics for 2025

This article compiles key wood industry statistics for 2025, covering global and U.S. markets, with a focus on e-commerce and sustainability. Data include market size, production, sales channels, investments, jobs, regional shares, and environmental metrics.

Top Wood Statistics (Editor’s Picks)

• The global wood & timber products market was $992.43 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $1,025.92 billion in 2025.
• The global wooden furniture market was $592.9 billion in 2024 and is forecast to reach about $989.8 billion by 2034 (≈5.4% CAGR).
• The world’s forests store approximately 861 gigatonnes of carbon — roughly equivalent to nearly 100 years of current annual fossil fuel emissions.
• AI is projected to reduce wood waste in the production of engineered products by up to 30%
• 65.1% of consumers tend to buy recycled wood products
• China imported about $53.55 billion of wood products in 2023 and exported $16.40 billion in 2024.
• The global engineered wood market was $268.67 billion in 2024, projected to $282.96 billion in 2025 and $451.16 billion by 2034 (≈5.32% CAGR).
• The U.S. forest products sector employed roughly 950,000 people in 2023 and generated about $288 billion in annual output (~4% of U.S. manufacturing GDP).
• More than 60% of sawmill operations worldwide are transitioning to automated and energy-efficient technologies.

Market Size & Growth

• The global wood and timber products market was valued at $992.43 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $1,025.92 billion in 2025.
  
• The global wooden furniture market was $592.9 billion in 2024. It is expected to grow to about $989.8 billion by 2034 (5.4% annual growth). This reflects rising incomes and urbanization, driving home furnishing demand.
  
• Online (e-commerce) furniture sales are growing fast. In 2025, global online furniture revenue is $257 billion in 2025.
• By 2029, online furniture sales are forecast to reach $430 billion. This underscores the boom in buying furniture over the internet.
  
• In the U.S., furniture and home goods e-commerce was about $120 billion in 2023. This shows Americans increasingly shop online for wooden furniture and related products.
  
• The wood recycling market (taking waste wood and turning it into new products or fuel) was about $24.56 billion in 2025
• Regionally, the Asia-Pacific had the largest share of wood/timber markets. Asia-Pacific Market of wood, forestry, and  paper is the largest producing market with a value of $916 billion. It accounted for 31.8% of the global timber market value in 2024.
• Total wood market output across Europe is projected to reach $217.4 billion in 2025.
• The global engineered wood market was valued at $268.67 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $282.96 billion in 2025, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.32% from 2025 to 2034, leading to a forecast of $451.16 billion by 2034.
• The softwood segment is anticipated to account for 75.1% of the global wood products market in 2025.
• Among derivative products, plywood is projected to hold a 44.1% market share in 2025.
• The residential segment is expected to represent 63.7% of the total wood products market in 2025, which confirms that new home building and renovation are key drivers of the industry’s success.

Sources: Grand View Research, Statista, The Business Research Company, The Business Research Company, Precedence Research, Coherent Market Insights, Euro Monitor, Statista

Adoption & Usage (E-commerce)

• E-commerce is a key growth channel for wood products. As noted, global online furniture sales hit $257 billion in 2025. This shows that more consumers buy furniture via websites.
  
• In the USA, the Online furniture and homeware sector sales hit $120 billion in 2023. This shows that more consumers are buying furniture via websites in the USA.
• In 2023, the furniture and homeware sector made up 9% of total retail e-commerce sales in the U.S.
• Large retailers are boosting wood-related e-sales. For example, Home Depot’s net sales reached $159.5 billion in fiscal 2024. (This includes all home improvement products, many of which contain wood.) A 4.5% annual sales increase shows consumers’ strong DIY demand, including lumber and wood components.
• Asia-Pacific Market of wood, forestry, and  paper is the largest market producing market with a value of $916 billion.
  

Sources: Statista 1, Statista 2, GM Insights, The Star, Euro Monitor

Consumers Behaviour

• In 2024, roughly one in ten U.S. consumers purchased furniture and household goods online.
• 65.1% of consumers tend to buy recycled wood products.
• Returns for online furniture purchases remain low — just 8% of U.S. buyers returned items in the past year, compared to 24% in online fashion shopping.
• Wayfair generated nearly $12 billion in revenue, with about 8 in 10 U.S. online furniture shoppers recognizing the brand in a 2023 survey.
• Around 50% of U.S. consumers said convenience was their main reason for buying furniture online in 2022, while 34% were motivated by lower prices.
• Globally, about 1 in 5 consumers purchased home and garden products online every month as of mid-2023.Since many home and garden items are made from wood, this means that wooden furniture and décor are part of this global trend.
• 45.6% of consumers view wood as a natural and organic material.
• 43.7% consumers say using wood makes them feel happy or increases their enjoyment.
• 82.5% consumers report that furniture is their most common use of wood at home.
• 71.8% consumers prefer wood-composite furniture for its greater functionality and design options.
• 57.8% consumers cite the high cost of natural wood as a reason to choose alternatives

Statista 1, NC State University, Statista 2, MDPI

Technology & Innovation Metrics

• More than 60% of sawmill operations worldwide are transitioning to automated and energy-efficient technologies.
• Currently, automated sawmills hold about 35% of the global market, with growth projected at a CAGR of 6.8% through 2033. Traditional sawmills continue to represent the largest share, accounting for around 45% of the market.
• AI algorithms and computer vision systems are projected to reduce wood waste in the production of engineered products by up to 30%
• AI-powered systems can inspect lumber at speeds of up to 300 boards per minute.
• In 2024, over 135,000 CNC woodworking machines were sold globally, a 19% increase from 2023.
• The global smart forestry market is expected to grow from $5.49 billion in 2025 to $8.25 billion in 2029, at a CAGR of 10.7%.
• The global precision forestry market (using drones, GIS, and data analytics in forests) was about $5.3 billion in 2023. It’s forecast to reach $9.3 billion by 2032 (6.0% CAGR). This growth shows strong interest in tech tools for tree inventories, yield prediction, and sustainability monitoring. 
• In the U.S., there were 1,860 mass-timber construction projects (built or planned) by June 2023. This growing pipeline includes schools, offices and apartments built with engineered wood. 
• Global Cross-Laminated Timber market was projected at $3.56 billion by 2030. These numbers show that wood high-rise building is moving from niche to mainstream, driven by sustainability and speed benefits.
  The global woodworking machinery market, which is a key indicator of industry investment, was valued at $5.03 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to $5.23 billion in 2025.
• The furniture industry alone used over 860,000 machines in 2024, demonstrating the widespread adoption of modern production equipment.
• Over 58% of global sales for key machine tools like saws and routers were for CNC-enabled versions in 2024, which confirms that automation is no longer a niche trend but an industry standard.
• This investment in technology is driven by a strong economic rationale. Automated sanding systems, for example, can reduce labor expenses to as little as $15 per hour.

Sources: GM Insights, Markets and Markets, Environmental and Energy Study Institute, Fortune Business Insights, Market Growth Reports, Omni Robotic, Verified Market Reports, Material District, Easy ODM, Research and Markets

Top Wood Exporting and Importing Countries

Top Wood Exporting Countries

In 2024, China remained the world’s largest wood exporter, shipping $16.4 billion worth of products, with the U.S. being its biggest buyer at $2.93 billion.

Top Wood Exporting Countries

Top Wood Importing Countries

In 2023, China was the world’s largest wood importer, purchasing over $53.5 billion worth of wood products, making it the leading destination for global wood trade.

Top Wood Importing Countries (Values in USD, 2023)

Source: Trade Imex, World Integrated Trade Solution

Regional / Country Breakdown

• The United States produces 19% of industrial wood, with 292.1 million cubic meters of wood production is a top producer of wood.
• The United States, consuming 20% of global wood production, is the top consumer of wood.
• E-Commerce region: North America led wood product e-commerce in 2024, but Asia-Pacific (especially China and India) shows rapid online growth in furniture and home improvement sales.
• China: Remains the world’s largest importer and producer of wood products. It drives much of Asia’s 32% market share.
• Europe: By 2025, the European wood market is expected to add about $70.9 billion in value.
• Emerging markets: Growth is strong in India and Latin America, too. For instance, India’s housing programs boost wood demand (e.g., housing initiative PMAY). Mexico and Brazil have expanding wood industries, though Brazil’s Amazon deforestation issues are a concern (see below).

GM Insights, The Star, The Business Research Company, Grand View Research, Geeks for Geeks, Wikipedia, Statista

Production, Output & Capacity

• Global Wood Production is 4bn m3 per year.
• Global industrial roundwood production  was 1.92 billion m³ in 2023, about 4% less than in 2022. This indicates a pull-back in raw timber harvesting.
• Sawnwood (lumber) production fell 4% in 2023 to 445 million m³ (the lowest since 2014). Lower building and renovation activity caused this decline.
• Wood-based panel production (like plywood, OSB) edged up 1% to 381 million m³ in 2023, led by Asia-Pacific increases. Panels are used in furniture, construction, and packaging.
• Wood pulp output (fiber for paper and boards) was 193 million tonnes in 2023, down 2% from 2022. This drop reflects reduced demand for paper amid digital substitution.
• Paper and paperboard production worldwide was 401 million tonnes in 2023, a 3% decline. Graphic paper (magazines, newsprint) fell 9%, highlighting the impact of digital media on traditional paper.
• Wood pellet production (bioenergy fuel) reached 47 million tonnes in 2023, a small decline of 2% after years of growth. Energy market fluctuations may explain the slight slowdown.
• In 2023, global production of laminated veneer lumber (LVL) was 4 million m³, glue-laminated timber (glulam) was 7 million m³, and cross-laminated timber (CLT) was 1 million m³. These modern wood products are used in tall and sustainable buildings.

Food and Agriculture Organization, Thunders Aid Energy

Costs, Prices & Trade

• The average online order value for furniture worldwide reached about $422 per order in 2023.
• In 2023, international trade in wood/paper products fell sharply. Exports of these goods dropped by about 12% (–$64 billion) to $482 billion. This indicates lower global trade volumes and prices amid economic slowdown.
• Global sawnwood trade (export volume) also declined, down 8% in 2023 to 129 million m³ (lowest since 2014). Falling lumber prices have dampened export earnings.
• Pulp trade bucked the trend: it rose 3% in 2023 to 71 million tonnes, reaching a record high, perhaps due to tight supply and demand dynamics in tissue and packaging papers.
• In 2024, Southern Pine lumber exports surged by 11% to a total of 565.7 million board feet, with a total value of $211.5 million.
• The U.S. exported $9.57 billion in forest products in 2024.. This export value reflects the U.S. role as a significant supplier to the global market.
• Canada was the top destination for U.S. forest product exports in 2024, with a value of $2.32 billion. This shows the strong and reciprocal trade partnership between the two North American countries.
• China was the world’s largest wood exporter in 2024, with a total value of $16.40 billion. This reflects China’s vast manufacturing and processing capabilities, which make it a dominant force in global trade.
• Canada was the second-largest wood exporter in 2024, with a value of $13.54 billion, with the U.S. as its largest customer. This highlights the central role of the U.S. market in supporting Canada’s wood industry.
• The U.S. produced 292.1 million cubic meters of wood, making it a major global producer. This production volume supports both domestic demand and a strong export market.
• The price of framing lumber soared by 250% from May 2020 to May 2021, reaching $1,494 per thousand board feet. The price of structural panels increased by 300% during the same period, reaching $1,657 per thousand square feet.
• The U.S. wood products producer price index was 181.954 in July 2025, a slight increase from the previous month. This trend shows that the market is now more stable after the extreme price swings of earlier years.
• The U.S. wood products sector’s unit labor costs grew by 2.2% in 2024. 
• On a per-person basis, the wood industry in Europe will contribute about $84 in value in 2025.

Statista, Food and Agriculture Organization, Southern Pine, Trade Imex. Foreign Agricultural Service, TFS Web, Eye on Housing, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Statista

Employment & Economic Impact

• In the U.S., the forest products sector is a major employer. About 950,000 people were employed in the U.S. wood products industry (lumber, panels, paper, etc.) as of 2023. This workforce generates roughly $288 billion in output per year, or 4% of U.S. manufacturing GDP.
• The employment rate in the wood sector in Europe is projected to account for around 0.16% of the workforce in 2025.
• The U.S. glulam (engineered wood) market alone was valued at $7.5 billion in 2023, with about 5% projected growth. This niche industry directly creates new wood manufacturing jobs.
• Globally, many rural economies depend on wood. For example, a study cited 1.6 billion people rely on forests for their livelihoods.
• In 2024, U.S. woodworkers held approximately 214,600 jobs. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that overall employment for woodworkers will decline by 2% from 2024 to 2034. This projected decrease in jobs, despite overall market growth, can be explained by the widespread adoption of automation and advanced machinery.
• In 2022, 3.6 million people were employed in the forestry and wood-based industries in Europe, which was a 1.4% increase from 2012. 
• The forestry and wood-based industries sector accounts for about 7% of the EU’s manufacturing GDP, highlighting its central role in the economy.
• U.S. wood product manufacturing had 412.1 thousand employees in July 2025 
• The number of private industry establishments in the U.S. reached a preliminary 16,201 in the fourth quarter of 2024. The increase in the number of businesses while employment remains stable or declines points to a trend of smaller, more specialized, and more efficient companies.
• Overall, U.S. employment for woodworkers is projected to decline by 2% from 2024 to 2034.
• In July 2025, the average hourly earnings for all employees in wood product manufacturing were $28.30.
• The average weekly hours worked by all employees were 40.9 in July 2025. This confirms that most jobs in the industry are full-time positions.

Sources: US Forest Service Research and Development, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Eurostat, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Statista

Environmental & Sustainability Metrics

• 76% of U.S. adults prefer buying wood from companies that use reclaimed wood.
• The wood recycling market was growing at $24.58 billion in 2024. 
• Globally, about 300 million hectares of forest are PEFC-certified (2023), which is roughly 71% of all certified forests worldwide. In other words, nearly three-quarters of certified forests use PEFC standards. 
• PEFC also certifies over 29,800 companies for chain-of-custody, meaning one-third of all certified wood supply chains are under PEFC.
• About 63 million hectares of forest are certified by both PEFC and FSC (mid-2023). Double certification ensures very stringent environmental standards.
• The world’s forests store about 861 gigatonnes of carbon.This total storage is equivalent to nearly 100 years of current global fossil fuel emissions.

Global Forest Carbon Storage Breakdown

• Tropical rainforests make up only 30% of global tree cover but hold 50% of the carbon stored in trees.
• Tropical deforestation remains high. In 2022, about 4.1 million hectares of primary (rain)forest were lost (equivalent to 11 soccer fields per minute), up 10% from 2021. This released roughly 2.7 gigatonnes of CO₂ (about India’s annual fossil emissions) into the atmosphere. 
• Brazil’s Amazon deforestation declined by 50% in 2023 (from prior years). The global trend is alarming, underlining climate and biodiversity risks.
• The paper sector is surprisingly green. About half of the wood used by paper mills comes from certified forests or plantations. .
• Illegal logging: Challenges persist. An estimate from Indonesia (pre-2020) said 78% of logging there was illegal. Such illegal harvesting undermines sustainability efforts. Notably, certified schemes like PEFC and FSC explicitly prohibit wood from illegally logged areas.
• Studies note building with mass timber instead of steel/concrete can reduce material-related emissions by 13–26.5%. 
• Every cubic meter of wood roughly stores about 0.9–1 tonne of CO₂, depending on wood type. Thus, wood construction is seen as a climate-friendly choice when forests are responsibly managed.
• About 40% of recycled wood comes from construction/demolition waste. Recycled wood often becomes panels (particleboard, MDF) or biofuel. By 2030, the recycled wood sector may be $12 billion, reflecting tighter landfill rules and demand for recycled content in the EU/North America.
•  In 2024, the world lost 26.8 million hectares of natural forest, which was equivalent to 10 gigatons of CO₂ emissions.
• The global sustainable wood products market was estimated at $150 billion in 2025 and expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7% from 2025 to 2033.
• The reclaimed lumber market alone was valued at $5.34 billion in 2024, with a strong demand for these materials in the construction and furniture sectors.
• Buildings framed in wood release 26% less carbon than steel-framed buildings and 31% less than concrete-framed buildings.
• The world lost 571,863 km² of tropical rainforest between 2002 and 2019 — an area larger than continental France.
• About 34% of the original tropical rainforest has been lost, 30% is degraded, and 36% remains intact.

Tropical rainforest key metrics

• The Amazon region contains 72% of the world’s intact tropical rainforests; Brazil alone holds 42% of the world’s intact tropical rainforest area.
  
• Asia has been especially affected, retaining only 7% of the world’s intact tropical rainforest. On Sumatra, just 9% of the island’s original tropical rainforest remains intact.
• Globally, 9 million hectares of tree cover were lost to wildfires in 2023

Sources: Strategic Market Research, PEFC, World Resource Institute,  Toner Buzz, Food and Agriculture Organization, EESI, Global Forest Watch, Active Market Research, Maximize Market Research, US Department of Agriculture, US Forest Service, World Resources Institute, RegnsKog, Statista

Investment, Funding & M&A

• Major timber companies are active in acquisitions. For example, Weyerhaeuser (one of the largest global timber firms) announced in May 2025 that it will pay $375 million to buy 117,000 acres of timberland in North Carolina and Virginia. This highlights investors’ confidence in forested land value.
  
• Weyerhaeuser said this deal brings its total timberland acquisitions since early 2022 to over $1.1 billion. Such large-scale purchases show how timberlands are viewed as long-term assets.
  
• As of 2024, Weyerhaeuser’s annual sales were $7.1 billion, and the company manages about 10.4 million acres of forest worldwide. Crucially, it reports that all these forests are managed under certified sustainable practices.
  
• West Fraser Timber (a top lumber/OSB producer) reported $6.17 billion in sales for 2024 (11% of sales as EBITDA). This signals its large scale. West Fraser also invests heavily in modernization and renewable energy (e.g., solar panels to cut mill energy use), reflecting green initiatives.
• Brookfield Asset Management agreed in mid-2025 to sell $2.65 billion worth of U.S. timberlands to Weyerhaeuser (not post-2020, but the scale is similar), showing continued consolidation of forest assets.

Sources: Weyerhaeuser, West Fraser, Reuters