Securing long-term access to raw materials emerged as the central message of the European Organisation of the Sawmill Industry (EOS) General Assembly in Brussels, where industry representatives warned that climate change, pest outbreaks and evolving European legislation are increasing pressure on Europe's forest-based industries.<\/p>\n
The event brought together representatives from the lumber sector, forest-based industries, policymakers and stakeholders from across the wood value chain to discuss market developments, forest policy and the future competitiveness of the European sawmill industry.<\/p>\n
Opening the meeting, EOS President Tommi Sneck emphasized the importance of cooperation across the sector and highlighted the strategic role of Europe's sawmills in supplying renewable and low-carbon materials.<\/p>\n
According to EOS, the European sawmill industry comprises nearly 32,000 companies, employs more than 220,000 people and generates annual turnover exceeding EUR 51 billion.<\/p>\n
Raw material availability dominates discussions<\/strong><\/p>\n A major focus of the General Assembly was the growing pressure on wood raw material supply.<\/p>\n EOS said climate change, pest outbreaks and policy developments are increasingly influencing the availability of timber resources across Europe. The organization stressed that forest protection and sustainable forest management must go hand in hand with ensuring a stable supply of renewable raw materials for European industries.<\/p>\n The issue is particularly important for the hardwood sector.<\/p>\n EOS Vice-President for Hardwood Maria Kiefer-Polz highlighted continuing log shortages and weak domestic consumption as key challenges facing hardwood producers. At the same time, she underlined the significant opportunities offered by hardwood resources, particularly in construction and other high-value applications.<\/p>\n The General Assembly also examined several policy initiatives that could influence future wood supply and forest management practices.<\/p>\n Members received updates from European Commission officials on developments related to the LULUCF Regulation, the future EU Climate Policy Framework beyond 2030, the Birds Directive Guidance and the ongoing stress test of the Birds and Habitats Directives.<\/p>\n According to EOS, these discussions provided an opportunity for members to assess the potential implications of future environmental and climate legislation for the forest-based sector.<\/p>\n Lumber production remains below post-pandemic highs<\/strong><\/p>\n EOS also presented its latest Annual Report, providing an overview of production, consumption, trade and policy developments across the European lumber sector.<\/p>\n According to EOS member data, softwood lumber production peaked in 2021 before declining by around 10% over the following two years. Since 2023, production has remained relatively stable, although at a lower level than before the pandemic.<\/p>\n The organization said challenging market conditions, particularly in European construction markets, continue to weigh on demand and limit growth opportunities for producers.<\/p>\n The hardwood sector has followed a similar pattern. Hardwood lumber production in 2025 was 0.2% higher than in 2024 after declining significantly from the 2021 peak. Production is expected to increase slightly again in 2026.<\/p>\n The Annual Report also includes a review of European construction markets and an analysis of wood's market share as a building material across numerous countries. In addition, EOS highlighted its advocacy activities and policy work carried out during the past year.<\/p>\n European forests continue to accumulate growing stock<\/strong><\/p>\n One of the report's key findings concerns the long-term availability of forest resources in Europe.<\/p>\n Drawing on FOREST EUROPE's recently published State of Europe's Forests 2025 report, EOS noted that European forests continue to accumulate standing timber volume and remain within sustainable harvesting limits.<\/p>\n According to the report, growing stock continues to increase as annual forest growth consistently exceeds harvesting levels across Europe.<\/p>\n For the lumber industry, these findings support the argument that sustainable forest management can simultaneously contribute to biodiversity protection, climate objectives and industrial competitiveness.<\/p>\n Industry seeks balanced forest policies<\/strong><\/p>\n The General Assembly concluded with a call for policies that balance environmental protection with economic competitiveness.<\/p>\n EOS argued that Europe needs policy frameworks that protect forests, support sustainable forest management, secure access to renewable raw materials and create conditions that allow companies throughout the forest value chain to invest and innovate.<\/p>\n The organization said a competitive forest sector will be essential if Europe is to achieve its climate and industrial objectives while continuing to supply renewable materials to domestic and international markets.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Securing long-term access to raw materials emerged as the central message of the European Organisation of the Sawmill Industry (EOS) General Assembly in Brussels, where industry representatives warned that climate change, pest outbreaks and evolving European legislation are increasing pressure … Continue reading