Timber demand to grow 49% by 2050 driven by mass timber & biomass

Posted on July 29, 2024   |  

Post-pandemic changes have boosted wood production, reaching over 4 billion cubic meters in 2022.

Roundwood demand is expected to grow by 49% from 2020 to 2050, driven by developments in mass timber, biomass, and cellulosic products.

Policymakers are striving to protect forest resources, which face significant threats from climate change.

Wildfire activity is increasing globally, releasing 6,687 megatonnes of carbon dioxide in 2023.

Pine wood nematodes are harming pine forests in Asia, and North American forests are predicted to be affected by insects and diseases in the next few years.

Industrial roundwood production, used for sawn wood, panels, and pulp, overtook woodfuel production in 2018, with most produced in Europe and North America, and 39% in Africa, Asia, and South America.

Global roundwood production is forecasted to rise by 4-8% from 2022 to 2030, and by 6-32% from 2022 to 2050, potentially increasing by 240 million to 1,200 million cubic meters by 2050, depending on various scenarios.