Tools and Resources
A total of 164 sawmills processed UK roundwood in 2017 (Table 2.8). Most mills (84%) produced less than 25 thousand m3 sawnwood (softwood and hardwood) during the year.
Over the past ten years, the number of active sawmills has reduced by 17%. Most of this decrease has occurred in the smallest size categories.
Table 2.8 Number of sawmills by size of mill, 2008-2017
| Year | Size of mill (total production)1 | Total | ||||||
| < 1 | 1 – <5 | 5 – <10 | 10 – <25 | 25 – <50 | 50 – <100 | 100+ | ||
| 2008 | 76 | 56 | 15 | 20 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 197 |
| 2009 | 79 | 52 | 12 | 23 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 195 |
| 2010 | 75 | 50 | 12 | 24 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 188 |
| 2011 | 70 | 51 | 12 | 23 | 9 | 7 | 12 | 184 |
| 2012 | 69 | 49 | 13 | 19 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 180 |
| 2013 | 67 | 46 | 13 | 19 | 11 | 6 | 13 | 175 |
| 2014 | 69 | 42 | 12 | 19 | 11 | 8 | 12 | 173 |
| 2015 | 66 | 43 | 15 | 17 | 12 | 6 | 12 | 171 |
| 2016 | 61 | 42 | 15 | 20 | 6 | 10 | 13 | 167 |
| 2017 | 61 | 42 | 13 | 21 | 5 | 10 | 12 | 164 |
Source: Sawmill Survey
Notes:
1. Categories are based on total sawnwood production (softwood and hardwood), in thousand m3.
Data: Longer time series of the above table are available from the Data Downloads web page at: www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/statistics/data-downloads/.
Sources chapter: Sawmill Survey