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Marco Schmidt
coniferous timber stood at around 5.45 million cubic metres. growth, with turnover exceeding €2.3 billion, according to data
Nevertheless, there are positive indicators. Domestic from the Federazione Filiera Legno's 2025 Wood Construction
production of coniferous sawn timber has returned to growth Observatory.
and now stands at nearly one million cubic metres, underscoring Beyond their energy and environmental performance, timber
the strategic role of Italian sawmills in utilising the country's buildings play a strategic role as carbon sinks.
forest resources. At the same time, the expansion of off-site construction
Encouraging trends are also emerging in the broadleaf is driving the sector towards more industrialised, efficient and
timber sector, where production is forecast to reach around innovative production models, capable of reducing construction
340,000 cubic metres in 2025. timelines, resource consumption and the environmental impact
This reflects growing interest in maximising national forest of building sites.
resources, particularly supply chains linked to chestnut—a
species historically central to the economy of Italy's mountainous Maximising the Full Life Cycle
and hilly regions. The trend highlights the untapped potential "The EOS data show that the challenge is not just about
of the Italian supply chain. forests or individual companies, but about the country's
ability to develop an industrial policy that makes the most of
A strategic raw material our raw material throughout its entire life cycle," said Angelo
From sawmills to packaging, from construction to fit-outs, Luigi Marchetti, President of the Federazione Filiera Legno."
and across numerous industrial and professional applications, Raw material availability, sustainable forest management,
timber remains a strategic raw material for thousands of industrial innovation, timber construction, logistics, packaging and
Italian businesses. manufacturing are all elements of a single, interconnected production
The packaging sector alone handles approximately 160 ecosystem that must engage with other national supply chains.
million pallets annually, with domestic production exceeding 84 Italy possesses expertise, companies and know-how of
million units, confirming timber's central role in the country's the highest calibre, but we need to strengthen our ability to
logistics and real economy. work as a cohesive system and build a shared vision for the
Timber construction continues to be a key area of demand future of the sector," Marchetti concluded.

