Wood industry

The wood, forest(ry), and timber/lumber industry are a - usually private - economic sector concerned with forestry, logging, timber trade, and the production of forest products, timber/lumber, primary forest and wood products (e.g. furniture) and secondary products like wood pulp for the pulp and paper industry. Some largest producers are also among the biggest timberland owners.

The wood industry plays a dominating role in today's wood economy.

Distinction

In the narrow sense of the terms, wood, forest, forestry and timber/lumber industry appear to point to different sectors, in the industrialized, internationalized world, there is a tendency toward huge integrated businesses that cover the complete spectrum from silviculture and forestry in private primary or secondary forests or plantations via the logging process up to wood processing and trading and transport (e.g. timber rafting, forest railways, logging roads).

Processing and products differs especially with regard to the distinction between softwood and hardwood.[1][2][3][4][5] While softwood primarily goes into the production of wood fuel and pulp and paper, hardwood is used mainly for furniture, floors, etc.. Both types can be of use for building and (residential) construction purposes (e.g. log houses,log cabins,timber framing).

Production chain

Main article: wood production

After logging, which is now typically done using large harvesters, the trunks of the felled trees are cut in lumber mills.


Top producers

In 2012, three of the top timberland owners by market capitalization were[6][7]

In 2008 the largest lumber and wood producers in the USA were[8]

According to sawmilldatabase, the world top producers of sawn wood in 2007 were:[10]

Company Production or Capacity in m3/yr
West Fraser Timber Co Ltd 8460000
Canfor 6900000
Weyerhaeuser 6449000
Stora Enso 4646000
Georgia Pacific 4300000
Resolute Forest Products 3760000
Interfor 3550000
Sierra Pacific Industries 3200000
Hampton Affiliates[11] 3100000
Arauco 2800000
Tolko Industries Ltd 2500000
Pfeifer Group[12] 2200000

References

See also

External links

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