Executive Summary

Swiss wood harvest rose in 2025 to 4.9 million cubic meters (+1.1% compared to 2024), following two years of decline. Energy wood, particularly wood chips, reached parity with saw timber for the first time and now accounts for 45% of total harvest – a doubling of its share within 20 years. Saw timber declined to 45% of harvest (2003: 70%), while industrial wood stagnated at 10%. Regionally, Canton Bern leads production with 0.96 million cubic meters; softwood dominates at two-thirds of harvest volume.

Persons

Topics

  • Swiss timber industry
  • Energy transition and renewable energy
  • Forest management and forestry
  • Sustainable raw materials

Clarus Lead

The shift toward energy wood signals a structural transformation of Swiss forestry, driven by the expansion of wood heating systems and district heating networks as a response to decarbonization targets. With wood chips now at 30% of total harvest, dependence on this raw material source for energy supply is growing – a development that more closely intertwines forest policy and energy planning while raising questions about long-term forest capacity.

Detailed Summary

The forest statistics of the Federal Statistical Office document a two-decade restructuring of wood utilization. Saw timber continuously lost weight – from 70% (2003) to 45% (2025) – while energy wood doubled its share. This shift is not cyclical but structural: it reflects declining demand for traditional construction timber and rising demand for renewable energy sources.

Regionally, heterogeneity is evident: Bern (+8.2%), Valais (+37.3%), and Ticino (+15.1%) increased harvests, while Graubünden (–5.5%) and Vaud (–3.4%) recorded declines. Bern remains the dominant producer with 0.96 million cubic meters, followed by Vaud, Zurich, Graubünden, and Aargau. Wood assortment distribution varies: while Bern, Vaud, and St. Gallen remain saw timber-heavy (>50%), wood chips dominate in Zurich and Aargau (~45%). Graubünden shows a traditional structure with 60% saw timber share.

Private forest owners increased harvests by 6% (1.7 million m³), particularly in the foothills and midlands. Public forests declined by 1.3% (3.2 million m³), with only wood chips increasing (+2.9%). Softwood accounts for two-thirds of total harvest; regionally, softwood harvests rose in foothills (+3.6%) and Alps (+3.2%), while hardwood increased in the Jura, midlands, Alps, and Alpine south side – Alpine south side with an extreme increase (+23.1%).

Key Messages

  • Energy wood dominates for the first time: At 45% of wood harvest, energy wood reaches parity with saw timber and documents a structural shift toward renewable energy sources.
  • Wood chips as key assortment: The rise to 30% of total harvest is driven by expansion of wood heating systems and district heating networks.
  • Regional disparities: Cantons such as Valais (+37.3%) and Ticino (+15.1%) show dynamic growth; Graubünden and Vaud record declines.
  • Private forests grow, public forests stagnate: Private forest owners increase harvests by 6%, public forests decline by 1.3%.

Critical Questions

  1. Forest Capacity: Can Swiss forest area sustainably support a doubling of energy wood utilization over two decades, or does overuse threaten with continuously rising demand?

  2. Wood Chips Data Quality: How is wood chips defined and recorded? Do recording methods differ between cantons, potentially compromising comparability?

  3. Energy Transition Causality: Is the increase in energy wood primarily driven by demand for renewable energy or by forest damage events (bark beetles, storms) that increased supply?

  4. Private vs. Public Forest Management: Why do private forest owners increase harvests (+6%) while public forests decline (–1.3%)? Do management incentives differ?

  5. Regional Disparities: Do the extreme differences (Valais +37.3% vs. Graubünden –5.5%) explain themselves through forest damage, market prices, or forest policy?

  6. Hardwood Anomaly Alpine South Side: The 23.1% increase in hardwood harvests on the Alpine south side is atypical – is a calamity event present?

Source Directory

Primary Source: Swiss Wood Harvest 2025: Energy Wood Reaches Parity with Saw Timber – Federal Statistical Office (BFS), Media Release, 22.07.2026

Supplementary Source:

  • Forest Statistics of the Federal Statistical Office (BFS) – www.bfs.admin.ch/news/de/2026-0599

Verification status: ✓ 22.07.2026

This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial Responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-Check: 22.07.2026