Italy remains one of Europe`s most important wood processing markets, but its raw material supply increasingly depends on imports, while the industrial use of domestic wood remains limited compared with the country`s forest potential. This trend may influence timber prices, supply chains and commercial opportunities for European suppliers of wood and lumber. 🌳

Italy has a substantial forest area, yet harvesting remains relatively limited. Sector data indicate that forest removals account for less than 40% of annual forest growth, meaning that a significant share of the country`s potential wood resource is not mobilised for industrial use.

At the same time, the Italian wood industry requires large volumes of raw material for sawmilling, wood panels, furniture, construction, packaging and paper production. The gap between industrial demand and domestic wood availability is increasingly covered through imports. 🪵

Wood imports increased strongly in 2025

According to FederlegnoArredo data, imports within Italy`s wood macro-system increased by 14.7% in 2025 compared with 2024, reaching almost EUR 5.8 billion.

Some of the strongest increases were recorded for:

- logs and sawn timber: +28.6%, representing an increase of approximately EUR 387 million;
- wood panels: +14%, approximately EUR 176 million more;
- construction wood products: +17.6%, approximately EUR 124 million more.

Austria and Germany remain among the main suppliers of wood and timber to the Italian market.

The increase in imports confirms Italy`s structural dependence on foreign raw material and suggests that demand from the Italian wood industry exceeds the current availability of competitively accessible local timber.

For a broader view of European raw material conditions, see WoodBusinessPortal.com`s analysis of high log prices and pressure across the European wood market.

Poplar highlights the shortage of local raw material

The situation is particularly visible in the case of poplar wood.

According to Italian forestry sector data, the country`s industry requires more than 2 million m3 of poplar wood per year, while domestic availability remains below 1 million m3.

Poplar wood is widely used for:

- plywood and other wood-based panels;
- wooden packaging;
- the paper industry;
- sawmilling and semi-finished wood products.

The difference must therefore be covered through imports, exposing Italian manufacturers to fluctuations in international timber prices, logistics costs and trade conditions.

The exceptional Vaia timber supply has largely disappeared

Another important factor is the end of the temporary timber surplus generated by Storm Vaia in 2018.

Large volumes of storm-damaged wood supplied northern Italian sawmills for several years and temporarily increased the availability of local raw material.

That exceptional source has now largely been exhausted.

The market is therefore returning to a more structural situation in which local wood availability is limited and imported timber becomes increasingly important for maintaining industrial production. 🌳

Italy has forests, but industrial mobilisation remains limited

At first sight, the situation appears paradoxical: Italy`s forest area has expanded over time, yet the country`s wood industry remains highly dependent on imported timber.

Several factors explain this situation:

- fragmented forest ownership;
- difficult access in mountainous regions;
- high harvesting costs;
- insufficient forest infrastructure;
- environmental and conservation restrictions;
- shortages of qualified forestry workers;
- difficulty creating stable and predictable commercial flows of local wood.

The result is that the existence of forest resources does not automatically translate into industrially available timber.

Additional pressure on wood and lumber prices

Italy`s import dependence is becoming more important at a time when global softwood supply growth is expected to remain relatively slow.

WoodBusinessPortal.com recently examined this issue in its analysis of tightening global softwood supply.

Global softwood roundwood supply is expected to increase by only around 0.5% per year through 2035, while demand from construction, packaging, biomass and other wood-consuming industries may grow faster.

For the Italian wood industry, the combination of high import dependence and slowly expanding global timber supply may create additional pressure on log and lumber prices. 📈

Higher imports create opportunities for European suppliers

Italy`s dependence on imported wood does not represent only a risk for Italian manufacturers. It also creates commercial opportunities for suppliers in other European countries.

Products with potential include:

- softwood and hardwood logs;
- sawn timber and lumber;
- semi-finished wood products;
- veneer and plywood;
- wood-based panels;
- furniture components;
- structural wood products.

For exporters across Central and Eastern Europe, Italy remains a market worth monitoring closely, especially for companies able to supply certified timber, consistent quality and reliable delivery schedules.

A broader view of prices, demand and international trade is available in The Wood Market in 2026: Romania and Europe - Prices, Demand and Industry Trends.

More local wood or more imports?

Over the medium term, Italy will need to find a balance between increasing the mobilisation of domestic wood and maintaining the import flows required by its industry.

Increasing the use of local timber is not simply a matter of harvesting more trees. It also requires investment in forest roads, mechanisation, active forest management, consolidation of fragmented ownership and workforce training.

At the same time, wood recycling can reduce pressure on virgin raw materials. Italy already has a relatively developed system for recovered wood, particularly for the production of wood-based panels and packaging.

The Italian wood industry is therefore likely to rely increasingly on a combination of local timber, recycled wood and imported raw material. ♻

Outlook for 2026-2027

The 14.7% increase in wood imports recorded in 2025 confirms that Italy remains highly dependent on international supply.

At the same time, the broader European wood market continues to face high raw material costs, cautious demand and pressure on processor margins. WoodBusinessPortal.com`s current market analysis highlights the growing importance of monitoring the relationship between log prices, lumber prices, production, imports, exports and demand.

For professionals in the wood industry, the key indicators to monitor include:

- log and lumber prices;
- Italian wood and timber imports;
- domestic harvesting volumes;
- construction and furniture demand;
- availability of recycled wood;
- logistics and energy costs.

If the industrial use of domestic wood remains limited, Italy is likely to remain one of Europe`s most important import markets for logs, lumber and intermediate wood products. For European exporters, this creates commercial opportunities, but also stronger competition between suppliers. 🪵

Sources:
FederlegnoArredo
CREA - Foreste e Legno
CREA

📈 Follow the European wood market: WoodBusinessPortal.com provides information on wood prices, timber supply, imports, exports, demand and international wood industry trends.

🪵 Do you export wood or wood products to Italy? Follow market developments and B2B opportunities through the professional community at WoodBusinessPortal.com.

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