In 2024, log harvest in Switzerland decreased by 87,000 m³ or 2% year on year to 4.8 million m³. In the past ten years, the harvest volume exceeded the 5-million-m³-mark only twice: in 2022 and 2018, each year at just under 5.2 million m³. The smallest logging volume was recorded in 2016 at 4.5 million m³.
Last year, 3.2 million m³ were softwood and 1.6 million m³ were hardwood logs. The share of softwood logs increased slightly by 20,500 m³ compared to 2023, while the volume of harvested hardwood logs decreased by 6% or 102,000 m³ (2023: 1.7 million m³). Over half of the harvested softwood (57%) came from the Central Plateau (31%) and the Alpine foothills (26%). Three quarters of the hardwood (1.2 million m³) were used for energy purposes. The share of hardwood in wood chips for energy generation fell by 2% to 52% compared to the previous year.
Sawlogs accounted for 2.2 million m³ in the total 2024 harvest, down by 245,000 m³ or 2% from the previous year. Of this, 2 million m³ were softwood and 218,000 m³ were hardwood sawlogs. Over the past 20 years, this log grade has lost in importance. In 2003, its share was almost 70%. Since 2019, it has fallen below 50%. In 2024, sawlogs accounted for only 46% of the total logging volume.
Firewood less relevant for energy generation
Industrial log wood accounted for around 10% of the total harvest in 2024. Compared to 2023, this corresponds to a 4% increase, from 479,000 m³ to 495,000 m³. Of this overall volume, 312,000 m³ were softwood and 183,000 m³ were hardwood.
The volume of energy wood remained at the 2023 level of 2.1 million m³. Its share in the total logging volume has doubled over the past 20 years. Significant changes can be observed when it comes to firewood: The harvest volume fell by 11% year on year, from 764,000 m³ to 682,000 m³. By contrast, a 3% increase to 1.4 million m³ was recorded for wood chips. This product accounts for around one third of the total harvest.
71% of Switzerland’s forests (1.3 million hectares) are owned by public sector owners, with an average of 265 hectares of forest per owner. The remaining 29% are owned by private forest owners, with an average area of 1.5 hectares each.
Two thirds of the wood (3.2 million m³) were harvested in public forests, and one third (1.6 million m³) in private forests. In private forests, the harvest volume decreased by around 120,000 m³ or 7% in 2024, with the decrease mainly affecting logs and firewood. Only the wood chips recorded an increase, of 2 percentage points, reaching a share of 26%. In public forests, the harvest volume remained more or less constant (+1%). There, year-on-year increases were recorded for wood chips and industrial wood.
Cumulatively, the cantons of Bern, Vaud, Zurich, Graubünden, and Aargau supplied 51% of Switzerland’s total harvest volume in 2024.
