Other deliveries

Introduction

Data on other deliveries comprise the following:

• shavings – mainly obtained from shavings manufacturers;
• woodfuel – private sector softwood removals survey, woodfuel suppliers and Expert Group on Timber & Trade Statistics estimates;
• hardwood round fencing – Expert Group on Timber & Trade Statistics estimates;
• other miscellaneous products – Expert Group on Timber & Trade Statistics estimates and
• exports of roundwood and chips – companies believed to export roundwood and/or chips, Forest Service (for exports from Northern Ireland) and HM Revenue and Customs.

The figures, which previously covered Great Britain only, were extended in 2004 to include Northern Ireland. Figures for exports prior to 2004 relate to Great Britain only.

Statistics reported for each year are available at a UK level only.

Data collected

The data collected on shavings, woodfuel and other miscellaneous products cover the quantity of roundwood only.

Data collected on exports includes the following categories; industrial roundwood (excluding sawlogs), sawlogs and chips. For 2004 and earlier years, these figures were provided by the UK Forest Products Association (UKFPA, now merged with the Confederation of Forest Industries,  Confor, www.confor.org.uk).

Methodology

For shavings, data are collected from the main companies known to produce shavings. In addition, a small estimate is made to cover other shavings manufacturers.

There are currently no reliable sources for data on hardwood round fencing and other miscellaneous products. As a result, estimates (that are rarely changed) are made by the Expert Group on Timber & Trade Statistics to attempt to take account of these other uses of UK roundwood.

The estimate for hardwood used for woodfuel was revised in 2005 to reflect a perceived increase in woodfuel, but this should not be interpreted as an increase in a single year. From 2007, an estimate of roundwood use for biomass energy was included in the woodfuel figures, based on data reported by suppliers and Expert Group on Timber & Trade Statistics estimates. In 2008, the private sector softwood removals survey was extended to ask how much of the removals reported were believed to be for woodfuel use. Estimates of softwood used for woodfuel for recent years are therefore considered to be more reliable than those for earlier years.

For exports, data are requested from companies believed to have exported roundwood or chips in the last year. Forest Service provides data on behalf of companies exporting from Northern Ireland. If required, a small estimate is made for any non respondents or to cover other companies that may have exported roundwood during the year. A change has been implemented since figures were last released, with exports of hardwood roundwood now estimated from the overseas trade statistics produced by HM Revenue and Customs.

Revisions

Figures for deliveries of softwood for woodfuel may be revised whenever revisions are made to the Private Sector Softwood Removals Survey.

The statistics on other deliveries are not normally revised after publication.  On occasion, an estimate may be revised in a subsequent publication, to take account of expert advice on perceived changes in the market for roundwood.

The quality report on UK Wood Production and Trade provides further information, including details of significant revisions to published statistics and is available at www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/statistics/about-our-statistics/code-of-practice/quality-of-official-statistics/.

Figures for 2017 are final; provisional figures were previously released in “UK Wood Production and Trade: 2017 provisional figures”.  Since the publication of provisional figures for 2017, the estimate of UK hardwood deliveries used for ‘Woodfuel’ has been changed from 400 to 600 (up 50%). This increase reflects a new estimate of the level of hardwood deliveries for woodfuel in 2017 and should not be interpreted as an increase in a single year.  This figure is currently under review.

Information on revisions made since “Forestry Statistics 2017” are provided in “UK Wood Production and Trade: 2017 provisional figures”.

Release schedule

Provisional figures for 2018 will be released on 16 May 2019 in “UK Wood Production and Trade: 2018 provisional figures”.

Final figures for 2018 will be released on 26 September 2019 in “Forestry Statistics 2019” and “Forestry Facts & Figures 2019”.

Additional resources

Chapter 2: UK-Grown Timber