Challenges and opportunities as timber processing industry grows

The Irish timber processing industry has adapted successfully over the last number of years from largely supplying the Irish construction sector to exporting almost 80% of what it produces to Britain, France and new markets in continental Europe. 

That’s the view of Dr Nuala Ni Fhlatharta, head of Teagasc’s Forestry Development Department, who said there is now a clear need to mobilise timber from the private forest sector to meet a growing demand from the forest products and bioenergy markets, as well as capturing more export markets in the years ahead.

“With annual timber production from the private forestry sector forecast to increase sevenfold to almost three million cubic metres by 2028, there are both challenges and opportunities for forest owners to get this rapidly expanding timber resource to market,” she said