Introduction

This chapter contains statistics on:

• timber prices;
• gross value added (GVA);
• Government expenditure on forestry; and
• grant schemes.

Estimates for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are included, where possible, in addition to UK or GB totals. Further information on the data sources and methodology used to compile the figures is provided in the Sources chapter.

Most of the statistics presented in this chapter have been previously released. Some of the figures for earlier years have been revised since Forestry Statistics 2022. For further details on revisions, see the Finance & Prices section of the Sources chapter.

A copy of all Finance & Prices tables can be accessed in spreadsheet format from our Data Downloads page.

Key findings

The main findings are:

• The Coniferous Standing Sales Price Index for Great Britain was 31.5% lower in real terms in the year to March 2023, compared with the previous year.
• The Softwood Sawlog Price Index for Great Britain was 34.9% lower in real terms in the 6 months to March 2023, compared with the corresponding period of the previous year.
• The Small Roundwood Price Index for Great Britain was 2.6% lower in real terms in the 6 months to March 2023, compared with the corresponding period of the previous year.
• Gross value added (GVA) in primary wood processing (sawmilling, panels and pulp & paper) was £2.09 billion in the UK in 2020. GVA in forestry was £0.76 billion.
• Net expenditure on public forests by Forestry England/Forestry and Land Scotland/Natural Resources Wales in 2022/23 totalled £65.7 million in 2022/23.
• £67.0 million was paid in grants for forestry by the Forestry Commission, Welsh Government, Scottish Forestry and the Forest Service in 2022/23.

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