Value of roundwood removals decreased by 16% in 2023
Online ISSN: 2737-792X
CSO statistical publication, 11 September 2024, 11am
Key Findings
-
The total value of roundwood removals was €214 million in 2023, a 16% decrease from €253 million in 2022 and a 6% decrease from €227 million in 2021 (See Table 1A).
-
Roundwood removals increased by 1.5% from 4.19 million cubic metres in 2022 to 4.25 million cubic metres in 2023 and decreased by 2% from 4.33 million cubic metres in 2021 (See Table 3A).
-
Removals from privately-owned forests were 1.8 million cubic metres in 2023 (See Table 1E).
-
In 2023, removals from public forests comprised 58% of the total removals volume (See Table 1D).
-
Coniferous roundwood accounted for over 99% of removals in 2023 (See Table 1B).
-
Large sawlog accounted for the highest proportion of roundwood removals volume at 38% in 2023, followed by pulpwood (27%) and small sawlog (25%) (See Table 3A).
Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (11 September 2024) published Forest Wood Removals 2023.
Commenting on the release Niamh Shanahan, Statistician in the Environment Division, said: "In 2023 the volume of roundwood removals was 4.25 million cubic metres (See Table 1A). This was an increase of 1.5% compared with the 2022 roundwood removals of 4.19 million cubic metres. Removals from privately-owned forests decreased by 1% compared with 2022, while removals from publicly-owned forests increased by 3%. Coniferous roundwood accounted for 99% of removals in 2023 (See Table 1B).
Removals from publicly-owned forests made up 58% of the 2023 roundwood removals volume (2.4 million cubic metres) with the remainder coming from privately-owned forests (See Figure 1, Tables 1D, and 1E).
The total value of removals in 2023 was €214 million which was a 16% decrease from the total value in 2022 and a 6% decrease from the total value in 2021 (See Table 1A). In contrast roundwood removals volume was 1.5% higher in 2023 compared with 2022, and 2% lower in 2023 compared with 2021.
Large sawlog accounted for the highest proportion of roundwood removals volume at 38% in 2023, followed by pulpwood (27%), and small sawlog (25%) (See Figure 2 and Table 3A). In 2022, large sawlog contributed to 38% of roundwood removals with pulpwood at 27% and small sawlog at 26%. These three products contributed to around 90% of annual roundwood removals volume."
Editor's Note
In the publicly-owned forest category, only removals of publicly-owned trees are included. See Background Notes for product definitions.
Note: A link to the survey questionnaire is available in the Background Notes.
null
Created with Highcharts 9.3.3Chart context menuSource: CSO Ireland201520162017201820192020202120222023Highcharts.com
Figure 1: Roundwood Removals 2015-2023
Total Removals
Removals from publicly-owned forests
Removals from privately-owned forests
012345
million cubic metres
|
Total Removals
|
Removals from publicly-owned forests
|
Removals from privately-owned forests
|
2015
|
3.312
|
2.235
|
1.077
|
2016
|
3.445
|
2.59
|
0.856
|
2017
|
3.698
|
2.592
|
1.106
|
2018
|
3.834
|
2.529
|
1.305
|
2019
|
4.007
|
2.72
|
1.288
|
2020
|
3.914
|
2.336
|
1.578
|
2021
|
4.333
|
2.235
|
2.098
|
2022
|
4.186
|
2.375
|
1.811
|
2023
|
4.248
|
2.447
|
1.801
|
null
Created with Highcharts 9.3.3Chart context menuSource: CSO IrelandLarge sawlogSmall sawlogStakewoodPulpwoodFuelwoodRoundwood for use as biomassHighcharts.com
Figure 2: Roundwood Removals by Product 2023
volume
0100200300400500600700800900100011001200130014001500160017001800
thousand cubic metres
|
volume
|
Large sawlog
|
1626
|
Small sawlog
|
1055
|
Stakewood
|
149
|
Pulpwood
|
1152
|
Fuelwood
|
204
|
Roundwood for use as biomass
|
61
|
Table 1A Total Removals 2023
Table 1A Total Removals 2023
|
Year
|
'000 tonnes
|
'000 cubic metres
|
€ million
|
2015
|
3,000
|
3,312
|
147.6
|
2016
|
3,132
|
3,445
|
151.4
|
2017
|
3,358
|
3,698
|
165.8
|
2018
|
3,482
|
3,834
|
184.5
|
2019
|
3,647
|
4,007
|
175.2
|
2020
|
3,463
|
3,914
|
168.2
|
2021
|
3,825
|
4,333
|
226.9
|
2022
|
3,729
|
4,186
|
253.2
|
2023
|
3,761
|
4,248
|
213.5
|
Table 1B Coniferous Removals 2023
Table 1B Coniferous Removals 2023
|
Year
|
'000 tonnes
|
'000 cubic metres
|
€ million
|
2015
|
2,994
|
3,306
|
147.3
|
2016
|
3,124
|
3,437
|
150.9
|
2017
|
3,344
|
3,682
|
164.9
|
2018
|
3,467
|
3,819
|
183.8
|
2019
|
3,637
|
3,995
|
174.7
|
2020
|
3,442
|
3,890
|
167.4
|
2021
|
3,801
|
4,307
|
225.8
|
2022
|
3,702
|
4,159
|
252.2
|
2023
|
3,738
|
4,225
|
213.2
|
Table 1C Non-coniferous Removals 2023
Table 1C Non-coniferous Removals 2023
|
Year
|
'000 tonnes
|
'000 cubic metres
|
€ million
|
2015
|
6
|
6
|
0.3
|
2016
|
8
|
9
|
0.4
|
2017
|
14
|
16
|
0.9
|
2018
|
15
|
15
|
0.7
|
2019
|
11
|
12
|
0.5
|
2020
|
21
|
23
|
0.7
|
2021
|
24
|
26
|
1.1
|
2022
|
27
|
28
|
1.0
|
2023
|
22
|
23
|
0.3
|
Table 1D Removals from Publicly-owned Forests 2023
Table 1D Removals from Publicly-owned Forests 2023
|
Year
|
'000 tonnes
|
'000 cubic metres
|
2015
|
2,032
|
2,235
|
2016
|
2,354
|
2,590
|
2017
|
2,356
|
2,592
|
2018
|
2,299
|
2,529
|
2019
|
2,471
|
2,720
|
2020
|
2,033
|
2,336
|
2021
|
1,943
|
2,235
|
2022
|
2,065
|
2,375
|
2023
|
2,127
|
2,447
|
Table 1E Removals from Privately-owned Forests 2023
Table 1E Removals from Privately-owned Forests 2023
|
Year
|
'000 tonnes
|
'000 cubic metres
|
2015
|
968
|
1,077
|
2016
|
778
|
856
|
2017
|
1,002
|
1,106
|
2018
|
1,183
|
1,305
|
2019
|
1,176
|
1,288
|
2020
|
1,430
|
1,578
|
2021
|
1,882
|
2,098
|
2022
|
1,664
|
1,811
|
2023
|
1,634
|
1,801
|
Table 2A Total Removals by Product 2023 ('000 tonnes)
Table 2A Total Removals by Product 2023 ('000 tonnes)
|
'000 tonnes
|
Product
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017
|
2018
|
2019
|
2020
|
2021
|
2022
|
2023
|
Large sawlog
|
913
|
989
|
1,092
|
1,151
|
1,130
|
1,308
|
1,538
|
1,386
|
1,423
|
Small sawlog
|
903
|
969
|
1,053
|
1,023
|
1,022
|
865
|
990
|
963
|
930
|
Stakewood
|
108
|
114
|
124
|
116
|
133
|
129
|
115
|
121
|
130
|
Pulpwood
|
923
|
858
|
925
|
1,006
|
1,092
|
901
|
959
|
987
|
1,011
|
Fuelwood
|
94
|
83
|
91
|
102
|
102
|
198
|
183
|
188
|
179
|
Roundwood for use as biomass
|
53
|
112
|
65
|
71
|
156
|
48
|
29
|
44
|
54
|
Woodchip
|
6
|
6
|
8
|
12
|
14
|
14
|
10
|
39
|
33
|
Short rotation coppice
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Other woody material
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
3,000
|
3,132
|
3,358
|
3,482
|
3,647
|
3,463
|
3,825
|
3,729
|
3,761
|
Table 2B Coniferous Removals by Product 2023 ('000 tonnes)
Table 2B Coniferous Removals by Product 2023 ('000 tonnes)
|
'000 tonnes
|
Product
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017
|
2018
|
2019
|
2020
|
2021
|
2022
|
2023
|
Coniferous large sawlog
|
913
|
989
|
1,092
|
1,151
|
1,130
|
1,305
|
1,535
|
1,384
|
1,422
|
Coniferous small sawlog
|
902
|
968
|
1,052
|
1,020
|
1,020
|
861
|
986
|
958
|
929
|
Coniferous stakewood
|
108
|
114
|
124
|
116
|
133
|
129
|
114
|
119
|
130
|
Coniferous pulpwood
|
923
|
858
|
925
|
1,006
|
1,092
|
897
|
955
|
983
|
1,007
|
Coniferous fuelwood
|
89
|
76
|
78
|
90
|
93
|
189
|
174
|
176
|
164
|
Coniferous roundwood for use as biomass
|
53
|
112
|
65
|
71
|
156
|
47
|
28
|
44
|
53
|
Coniferous woodchip
|
6
|
6
|
8
|
12
|
14
|
14
|
10
|
37
|
31
|
Coniferous short rotation coppice
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Coniferous other woody material
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
2,994
|
3,124
|
3,344
|
3,467
|
3,637
|
3,442
|
3,801
|
3,702
|
3,738
|
Table 2C Non-coniferous Removals by Product 2023 ('000 tonnes)
Table 2C Non-coniferous Removals by Product 2023 ('000 tonnes)
|
'000 tonnes
|
Product
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017
|
2018
|
2019
|
2020
|
2021
|
2022
|
2023
|
Non-coniferous large sawlog
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
3
|
2
|
0
|
Non-coniferous small sawlog
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
2
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
0
|
Non-coniferous stakewood
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
Non-coniferous pulpwood
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
Non-coniferous fuelwood
|
5
|
7
|
13
|
12
|
8
|
9
|
9
|
12
|
15
|
Non-coniferous roundwood for use as biomass
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
Non-coniferous woodchip
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
Non-coniferous short rotation coppice
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Non-coniferous other woody material
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
6
|
8
|
14
|
15
|
11
|
21
|
24
|
27
|
22
|
Table 2D Publicly-owned Forests Removals by Product 2023 ('000 tonnes)
Table 2D Publicly-owned Forests Removals by Product 2023 ('000 tonnes)
|
'000 tonnes
|
Product
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017
|
2018
|
2019
|
2020
|
2021
|
2022
|
2023
|
Large sawlog
|
633
|
796
|
787
|
751
|
820
|
821
|
788
|
892
|
879
|
Small sawlog
|
584
|
697
|
733
|
633
|
662
|
433
|
423
|
422
|
412
|
Stakewood
|
50
|
56
|
52
|
43
|
49
|
40
|
28
|
31
|
47
|
Pulpwood
|
658
|
655
|
680
|
752
|
755
|
566
|
559
|
561
|
634
|
Fuelwood
|
70
|
60
|
61
|
66
|
69
|
153
|
127
|
131
|
128
|
Roundwood for use as biomass
|
37
|
90
|
43
|
54
|
116
|
20
|
18
|
28
|
27
|
Woodchip
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Short rotation coppice
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Other woody material
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
2,032
|
2,354
|
2,356
|
2,299
|
2,471
|
2,033
|
1,943
|
2,065
|
2,127
|
Table 2E Privately-owned Forests Removals by Product 2023 ('000 tonnes)
Table 2E Privately-owned Forests Removals by Product 2023 ('000 tonnes)
|
'000 tonnes
|
Product
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017
|
2018
|
2019
|
2020
|
2021
|
2022
|
2023
|
Large sawlog
|
280
|
193
|
305
|
400
|
310
|
487
|
750
|
494
|
544
|
Small sawlog
|
319
|
272
|
320
|
390
|
360
|
432
|
567
|
541
|
518
|
Stakewood
|
58
|
58
|
72
|
73
|
84
|
89
|
87
|
90
|
83
|
Pulpwood
|
265
|
203
|
245
|
254
|
337
|
335
|
400
|
426
|
377
|
Fuelwood
|
24
|
23
|
30
|
36
|
33
|
45
|
56
|
56
|
51
|
Roundwood for use as biomass
|
16
|
22
|
22
|
17
|
40
|
28
|
11
|
16
|
27
|
Woodchip
|
6
|
6
|
8
|
12
|
14
|
14
|
10
|
39
|
33
|
Short rotation coppice
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Other woody material
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
968
|
778
|
1,002
|
1,183
|
1,176
|
1,430
|
1,882
|
1,664
|
1,634
|
Table 3A Roundwood Total Removals by Product 2023 ('000 cubic metres)
Table 3A Roundwood Total Removals by Product 2023 ('000 cubic metres)
|
'000 cubic metres
|
Product
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017
|
2018
|
2019
|
2020
|
2021
|
2022
|
2023
|
Large sawlog
|
1,016
|
1,092
|
1,210
|
1,276
|
1,249
|
1,495
|
1,749
|
1,583
|
1,626
|
Small sawlog
|
1,000
|
1,069
|
1,163
|
1,131
|
1,128
|
979
|
1,120
|
1,089
|
1,055
|
Stakewood
|
119
|
126
|
136
|
128
|
146
|
144
|
129
|
134
|
149
|
Pulpwood
|
1,015
|
944
|
1,018
|
1,108
|
1,200
|
1,018
|
1,094
|
1,118
|
1,152
|
Fuelwood
|
103
|
91
|
100
|
112
|
112
|
226
|
209
|
213
|
204
|
Roundwood for use as biomass
|
58
|
124
|
70
|
79
|
172
|
51
|
33
|
49
|
61
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
3,312
|
3,445
|
3,698
|
3,834
|
4,007
|
3,914
|
4,333
|
4,186
|
4,248
|
Table 3B Roundwood Coniferous Removals by Product 2023 ('000 cubic metres)
Table 3B Roundwood Coniferous Removals by Product 2023 ('000 cubic metres)
|
'000 cubic metres
|
Product
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017
|
2018
|
2019
|
2020
|
2021
|
2022
|
2023
|
Coniferous large sawlog
|
1016
|
1092
|
1210
|
1276
|
1249
|
1492
|
1745
|
1581
|
1626
|
Coniferous small sawlog
|
1000
|
1068
|
1162
|
1129
|
1126
|
975
|
1115
|
1083
|
1055
|
Coniferous stakewood
|
119
|
126
|
136
|
128
|
146
|
144
|
128
|
132
|
149
|
Coniferous pulpwood
|
1015
|
943
|
1018
|
1108
|
1200
|
1014
|
1089
|
1114
|
1148
|
Coniferous fuelwood
|
98
|
83
|
85
|
99
|
103
|
216
|
199
|
200
|
187
|
Coniferous roundwood for use as biomass
|
58
|
124
|
70
|
79
|
172
|
50
|
32
|
49
|
60
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
3,306
|
3,437
|
3,682
|
3,819
|
3,995
|
3,890
|
4,307
|
4,159
|
4,225
|
Table 3C Roundwood Non-coniferous Removals by Product 2023 ('000 cubic metres)
Table 3C Roundwood Non-coniferous Removals by Product 2023 ('000 cubic metres)
|
'000 cubic metres
|
Product
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017
|
2018
|
2019
|
2020
|
2021
|
2022
|
2023
|
Non-coniferous large sawlog
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
3
|
4
|
2
|
0
|
Non-coniferous small sawlog
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
2
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
0
|
Non-coniferous stakewood
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
Non-coniferous pulpwood
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
5
|
4
|
4
|
Non-coniferous fuelwood
|
5
|
8
|
14
|
13
|
9
|
11
|
10
|
13
|
17
|
Non-coniferous roundwood for use as biomass
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
6
|
9
|
16
|
15
|
12
|
23
|
26
|
28
|
23
|
Table 3D Roundwood Publicly-owned Forests Removals by Product 2023 ('000 cubic metres)
Table 3D Roundwood Publicly-owned Forests Removals by Product 2023 ('000 cubic metres)
|
'000 cubic metres
|
Product
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017
|
2018
|
2019
|
2020
|
2021
|
2022
|
2023
|
Large sawlog
|
696
|
876
|
866
|
826
|
902
|
945
|
907
|
1026
|
1011
|
Small sawlog
|
643
|
767
|
807
|
696
|
728
|
497
|
487
|
485
|
474
|
Stakewood
|
55
|
62
|
57
|
47
|
54
|
46
|
32
|
36
|
55
|
Pulpwood
|
723
|
720
|
748
|
828
|
831
|
651
|
643
|
645
|
729
|
Fuelwood
|
77
|
66
|
67
|
72
|
77
|
177
|
146
|
151
|
147
|
Roundwood for use as biomass
|
41
|
99
|
47
|
60
|
128
|
20
|
21
|
32
|
31
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
2,235
|
2,590
|
2,592
|
2,529
|
2,720
|
2,336
|
2,235
|
2,375
|
2,447
|
Table 3E Roundwood Privately-owned Forests Removals by Product 2023 ('000 cubic metres)
Table 3E Roundwood Privately-owned Forests Removals by Product 2023 ('000 cubic metres)
|
'000 cubic metres
|
Product
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017
|
2018
|
2019
|
2020
|
2021
|
2022
|
2023
|
Large sawlog
|
320
|
216
|
344
|
450
|
347
|
550
|
842
|
557
|
615
|
Small sawlog
|
357
|
302
|
356
|
435
|
400
|
482
|
633
|
604
|
581
|
Stakewood
|
64
|
64
|
79
|
81
|
92
|
98
|
96
|
98
|
94
|
Pulpwood
|
292
|
224
|
270
|
280
|
369
|
367
|
451
|
473
|
423
|
Fuelwood
|
26
|
25
|
33
|
40
|
36
|
50
|
63
|
63
|
57
|
Roundwood for use as biomass
|
17
|
25
|
23
|
19
|
44
|
31
|
12
|
17
|
30
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
1,077
|
856
|
1,106
|
1,305
|
1,288
|
1,578
|
2,098
|
1,811
|
1,801
|