Non coniferous sawnwood market in Australia and New Zealand, 2026

Earlier Report Observations

At the start of the period, non-coniferous sawnwood production in Australia and New Zealand stood at 720 thousand m³ in 2018. The market was then adjusting to earlier reductions in local timber sales capacity, which had cut volumes by approximately 7 000 m³ per month in the second half of 2017. Concurrently, a decline in imports of coniferous softwood sawnwood—driven by lower local prices—altered supply dynamics across the sawnwood sector.

Production continued to decline over the following years, falling to 475 thousand m³ by 2023. The total market volume shrank from 769 thousand m³ in 2018 to 512 thousand m³ in 2023, despite a temporary rise in imports to 100 thousand m³ in 2022. Export shipments fluctuated, peaking at 53 thousand m³ in 2019.

Imports showed notable volatility later in the period, jumping to 130 thousand m³ in 2024 before dropping to 68 thousand m³ in 2025. Exports dipped to 25 thousand m³ in 2024 but recovered to 46 thousand m³ in 2025.

Production non coniferous sawnwood in Australia and New Zealand

In kind, 2018-2021, K m³

Top producers of non coniferous sawnwood, 2018-2021

World map of production of non coniferous sawnwood, 2018-2021

In 2021, Australia and New Zealand produced 632.0 thousand cubic meters of non-coniferous sawnwood, maintaining a stable level compared to 2020. Production reached its lowest point in 2020 at 632.0 thousand cubic meters, with the largest decline of 8.7% occurring that year. Over the period from 2018 to 2021, production decreased by 12.3%, which translates to an annualized decline rate of 4.3%.

Annual dynamics of production in Australia and New Zealand in kind, 2018-2021, K m³

Exports non coniferous sawnwood from Australia and New Zealand

Exports in kind, m³

The export market for non-coniferous sawnwood from Australia and New Zealand exhibited volatility during the observed period. Exports hit their lowest point in 2018, then peaked in 2019 at 53 019 cubic meters, representing an 82.8% increase. In 2020, exports experienced the largest decline of 21.0%, followed by a modest recovery in 2021 to 43 135 cubic meters, marking a 2.9% rise from the previous year. The gap between the peak in 2019 and the trough in 2018 was 1.8-fold.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Australia and New Zealand in kind, 2018-2021, m³

From 2018 to 2021, the primary destinations for non-coniferous sawnwood exports from Australia and New Zealand were China, accounting for 22.5% of exports in volume, Malaysia at 19.8%, and the United States at 15.5%. Together, these three countries represented 57.7% of total export volumes.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's exports from Australia and New Zealand in kind, 2018-2021

Exports in value, M $ US

After a two-year decline, the value of non-coniferous sawnwood exports from Australia and New Zealand increased in 2021, reaching 23.1 million US dollars, a 7.8% advance over the previous year. The lowest value was recorded in 2020 at 21.5 million US dollars, with the largest decline of 15.8% occurring that year. Over the 2018-2021 period, exports decreased by 9.5%, equating to an annualized rate of decline of 3.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Australia and New Zealand in value, 2018-2021, M $ US

Between 2018 and 2021, Malaysia led as the top buyer in value terms, accounting for 30.8% of non-coniferous sawnwood exports from Australia and New Zealand, followed by China at 23.0% and the United States at 5.4%. Collectively, these three markets represented 59.2% of total export value.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's exports from Australia and New Zealand in value, 2018-2021

Imports non coniferous sawnwood to Australia and New Zealand

Imports in kind, m³

Imports of non-coniferous sawnwood into Australia and New Zealand increased for the second consecutive year in 2021, reaching 91 527 cubic meters, a strong rise of 20.0% compared to the previous year. The lowest import volume was recorded in 2019 at 76 172 cubic meters, with a slight decline of 1.4% that year. Over the 2018-2021 period, imports grew by 18.5%, corresponding to an annualized growth rate of 5.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Australia and New Zealand in kind, 2018-2021, m³

From 2018 to 2021, the main suppliers of non-coniferous sawnwood to Australia and New Zealand in volume terms were the United States, contributing 21.9% of imports, Malaysia at 21.8%, and the Solomon Islands at 11.2%. Together, these three sources accounted for 54.8% of total import volumes.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's imports to Australia and New Zealand in kind, 2018-2021

Imports in value, M $ US

Following a two-year decrease, the value of non-coniferous sawnwood imports into Australia and New Zealand surged in 2021 to 103.4 million US dollars, a sudden rise of 30.1% from the previous year. The minimum value was recorded in 2020 at 79.5 million US dollars, with the largest decline of 9.6% occurring that year. Over the 2018-2021 period, imports increased by 9.1%, with a compound annual growth rate of 2.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Australia and New Zealand in value, 2018-2021, M $ US

During 2018-2021, the United States was the leading supplier in value terms, accounting for 29.0% of non-coniferous sawnwood imports into Australia and New Zealand, followed by Malaysia at 15.0% and Indonesia at 12.0%. These three countries together represented 56.1% of total import value.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's imports to Australia and New Zealand in value, 2018-2021