A debate over timber supply is intensifying in Poland, where the country\u2019s vast wood-processing sector warns that restrictions on raw material could begin to affect production across the industry.<\/p>\n
The concern centers on a potential reduction in timber entering the market. Poland\u2019s annual wood supply has in recent years stood at around 40 million cubic meters, but plans discussed for 2026 could reduce that volume by roughly 3 million cubic meters.<\/p>\n
For an industry built on steady flows of raw material, even a relatively modest change in supply can have far-reaching consequences.<\/p>\n
Pellet production offers one example of how closely linked the different parts of the wood economy have become. Pellets are produced mainly from sawdust and other residues generated during wood processing. Roughly 30 percent of processed wood becomes sawdust and similar fractions that can be used as raw material for pellet manufacturing.<\/p>\n
If timber supply were to fall by 3 million cubic meters, that could remove roughly 900,000 cubic meters of these by-products, reducing pellet production by an estimated 450,000 tons annually, according to industry estimates.<\/p>\n
But the debate now unfolding in Poland extends well beyond a single product.<\/p>\n
Pressure across the value chain<\/strong><\/p>\n Companies across the wood-processing sector say that changes in timber availability quickly ripple through the entire value chain. Sawmills, panel producers, pellet manufacturers and furniture factories all depend on predictable deliveries of wood.<\/p>\n Several factors are shaping the current market. Energy and transport costs have risen sharply in recent years, increasing operating expenses across the forestry and wood-processing sectors. At the same time, demand for biomass has intensified competition for wood resources.<\/p>\n Another important development was the introduction in 2024 of restrictions on timber harvesting in parts of Poland\u2019s forests. The measures reduced the volume of wood entering the market, and companies say the effects are now being felt across the industry.<\/p>\n Industry groups warn that without a stable raw material policy the market may become increasingly volatile.<\/p>\n \u201cRestrictions on timber harvesting and the lack of a stable raw material policy risk destabilizing the market,\u201d said Jaros\u0142aw Michniuk, vice president of the Polish Chamber of Commerce of Furniture Manufacturers, which coordinates the Coalition for Polish Wood.<\/p>\n According to the coalition, the issue is no longer limited to the wood sector itself.<\/p>\n Large debate on forest policy<\/strong><\/p>\n Supporters of stricter forest protection argue that reducing timber harvesting is necessary to protect biodiversity and strengthen forests\u2019 resilience to climate change. Environmental groups also emphasize the role of forests in long-term carbon storage.<\/p>\n Sustainable forestry requires active management, including regeneration and restructuring of forest stands so that forests remain healthy and productive.<\/p>\n They argue that a balanced policy must protect the most valuable natural areas while ensuring that industries relying on wood continue to have access to raw material.<\/p>\n Without that balance, fluctuations in timber availability could increasingly affect companies across the sector.<\/p>\n A growing machinery and technology sector<\/strong><\/p>\n The debate over timber supply comes at a time when Poland\u2019s broader wood and furniture industries are expanding their technological capabilities.<\/p>\n That trend was visible at a conference held on 19 February 2026 in Mielec, organized by the industry association DROMA, which represents manufacturers of machinery, tools and services for the wood and furniture industries.<\/p>\n The event brought together representatives of leading companies and financial institutions to discuss the future of the sector and the role of technological innovation in maintaining competitiveness.<\/p>\n The meeting was led by Andrzej P\u00f3\u0142rolniczak, president of DROMA, and Tomasz Nieci\u0105g, president of ITA Tools and a member of the boards of both DROMA and the European machinery association EUMABOIS.<\/p>\n Among the speakers were Ziemowit Do\u0142kowski, president of Salvamac, and Krzysztof Mr\u00f3wczy\u0144ski from Bank Pekao.<\/p>\n Participants emphasized that the sector\u2019s future will depend on continued investment in automation, digitalization and energy-efficient technologies, as well as closer cooperation between companies operating in the wood-processing ecosystem.<\/p>\n European cooperation and new standards<\/strong><\/p>\n One topic that drew particular attention at the Mielec conference was the development of ETML, a European communication standard for industrial machinery.<\/p>\n The standard is designed to improve interoperability between machines and simplify communication between equipment used in modern woodworking and furniture manufacturing plants.<\/p>\n The initiative involves manufacturers and technology providers from Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Austria and the Nordic countries. Increasing participation by Polish companies in such projects reflects the growing role of Poland\u2019s machinery and technology sector within Europe\u2019s wood-processing industry.<\/p>\n The active involvement in European technological initiatives will allow Polish companies to influence the development of future standards and strengthen their position in international markets.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":98225,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5204],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-98224","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n