European forest stock up 45% since 1990, yet Italy depends on foreign timber for processing
Executive summary: European forest assets increased by about 45% since 1990 per EOS data, while Italy imported most of the wood it transformed in 2024. This gap highlights underutilization of domestic timber resources, affecting Italy’s trade balance and the competitiveness of its wood‑processing sector.
Who is involved: Italian wood‑processing firms, European forestry agencies (EOS), and policymakers shaping EU forest and trade rules.
Likely next: Policy discussions may focus on incentives for domestic wood valorization or adjustments to timber import flows to better align supply with demand.
According to EOS data cited by Il Sole 24 Ore, Europe's forested area has grown by roughly 45% since 1990. In 2024 Italy imported the majority of the wood it processes, indicating that domestic supply is not being fully utilized by the national wood‑processing industry. The divergence suggests a structural mismatch between resource availability and industrial capacity, with potential implications for trade balances, investment in local valorization, and EU forest‑related policy.
Timeline
- — Crescono le foreste europee, ma le aziende del legno dipendono dall’estero (Il Sole 24 Ore — Economia)
Analysis — what this means
Sectors affected
- European timber industry
- Italian wood‑processing sector
- EU forestry and bioeconomy
Historical parallels
- EU Forest Strategy 2020 (adopted 2020)
- EU Timber Regulation 2013 (Regulation (EU) No 995/2010)
Sources
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