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 Great Britain totals. Further information on the data sources and methodology used to compile the figures is provided in Chapter 10: Sources and Methodology.

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 2023. For further details on revisions, see Chapter 10: Sources and Methodology.

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

Key findings

The main findings are:

• The Coniferous Standing Sales Price Index for Great Britain was 9% lower in real terms in the year to March 2024, compared with the previous year.
• The Softwood Sawlog Price Index for Great Britain was 1% lower in real terms in the 6 months to March 2024, compared with the corresponding period of the previous year.
• The Small Roundwood Price Index for Great Britain was 2% lower in real terms in the 6 months to March 2024, compared with the corresponding period of the previous year.
• Gross value added (GVA) in primary wood processing (sawmilling, panels and pulp and paper) was £2.42 billion in the UK in 2022. GVA in forestry was £0.68 billion.
• Net expenditure on public forests by Forestry England, Forestry and Land Scotland and Natural Resources Wales totalled £76.7 million in 2023/24.
• £110.6 million was paid in grants for forestry by the Forestry Commission, Welsh Government, Scottish Forestry and Forest Service Northern Ireland in 2023/24.

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