Production and trade of wood products in 2006

Forests provide the renewable raw material for wood-based industries, income for remote areas and fibres that are increasingly recycled. In 2006, the EU-27 remained the world's leading producer of sawnwood (+4.3% compared with 2005) and paper and paperboard products (+3.5%). The wood pulp industry showed a 5.5% growth. Although the production of wood-based panels grew by 3.3%, China came a close second to the EU-27 as the number one producer.