Cubic Meters of Wood Produced
CURRENT TOTAL
Live Counter Notable Facts
(Data shown in the table is for 2025. Counter shows current estimate)
Global Production
Per Second Rate
2050 Projection
Understanding Cubic Meters of Wood Produced
This counter tracks global wood production in real-time, encompassing all harvested timber from forests worldwide. Annual production has reached a record 4 billion cubic meters, with about half used for industrial products like lumber and paper, and half for energy as fuelwood and charcoal.
Wood production has grown 13% since 1990 despite a 50% increase in global population, demonstrating improved efficiency and the shift from fuelwood to industrial uses. For the first time in history, industrial roundwood production exceeded fuelwood production in 2018.
The future of wood production is tied to the bioeconomy transition. Demand for primary wood products is projected to grow 37% by 2050 as wood increasingly substitutes for concrete, steel, and plastics. This could require establishing 33 million hectares of new sustainable plantations.
Global Wood Production Overview
- Wood remains humanity's most versatile renewable resource, with production at record levels serving everything from traditional fuelwood needs of 2.3 billion people to advanced engineered timber products for modern construction.
- The geographic distribution of production is shifting, with the US producing 19% of industrial wood (462 million m³), while China leads in processing despite limited forest resources, importing 37% of globally traded logs.
- Plantation forests demonstrate remarkable productivity, yielding 20-40 cubic meters per hectare annually compared to 1-3 from natural forests, and though covering just 7% of forest area, they provide 35% of industrial wood.
- The wood products industry contributed $663 billion to global GDP, with increasing focus on value-added products - while paper production declines, engineered wood products like CLT and wood-based textiles show strong growth.
Wood Production Terms
- Roundwood: Harvested wood in its natural round form
- Sawnwood: Lumber produced by sawing logs lengthwise
- Wood-based Panels: Plywood, particleboard, fiberboard products
- Industrial Roundwood: Wood for processing, not fuel
Production by Product Type
- Industrial roundwood: 2.04 billion m³
- Fuelwood: 1.96 billion m³
- Sawnwood: 493 million m³
- Wood-based panels: 408 million m³
- Wood pulp: 188 million tonnes
Top Producing Regions
- North America: 670 million m³
- Europe: 550 million m³
- Asia-Pacific: 1.4 billion m³
- South America: 430 million m³
- Africa: 750 million m³ (90% fuelwood)
Future Production Scenarios
- 2030 projection: 3.1 billion m³ consumption
- 2050 industrial wood: 37% increase expected
- Engineered wood growth: 20%+ annually
- Bioenergy demand: Doubling by 2050
- Investment needed: $40 billion annually
Data Sources and References
Methodology and Data Collection
Wood production data is compiled from national forest inventories, industry reports, and FAO questionnaires, covering all forms of wood removal from forests including industrial roundwood, fuelwood, and other products.
Real-time production is calculated at 127 cubic meters per second based on annual global production of 4 billion cubic meters, representing the continuous harvest of wood for all uses across the world's forests.
Frequently Asked QuestionsAbout Cubic Meters of Wood Produced
The counter uses FAO Global Forest Products Statistics compiled from national forest inventories and industry reports. The rate of 127 m³/second (4 billion m³ annually) is the most comprehensive global estimate, updated annually with verified production data.
Data comes from FAO Global Forest Products Statistics, UNECE Forest Products Market Review, Global Forest Sector Outlook 2050, and State of the World's Forests reports - the authoritative sources for global timber production tracking.
About half goes to industrial products (lumber, panels, paper) and half to energy (fuelwood, charcoal). Industrial roundwood is 2.04 billion m³, fuelwood is 1.96 billion m³. For the first time in history, industrial use exceeded fuelwood in 2018.
Only 11% of forests are certified sustainable. Plantation forests (7% of forest area) provide 35% of industrial wood with yields of 20-40 m³/hectare vs 1-3 from natural forests. Meeting 2050 demand (+37%) sustainably requires 33 million hectares of new plantations.
The wood products industry contributes $663 billion to global GDP. Wood is increasingly valued as a renewable substitute for concrete, steel, and plastics. Engineered wood products like CLT are growing 20%+ annually as construction shifts toward sustainable materials.