Forestry Focus

Sawmills

The Irish sawmilling industry is modern, efficient and customer focused. Through innovation and marketing, along with high levels of customer care and responsiveness to end user demands; the Irish sawmilling sector is securing increased export market share, particularly in the UK market.

Currently there are 5 large and 4 medium-size companies that form the core (90%) of the sawmilling industry in Ireland.

Company Location Size Website
Balcas Ltd. Enniskillen,Co. Fermanagh Large www.balcas.com
ECC Timber Products Ltd. Corr na Móna,Co. Galway Large www.ecc.ie
Glennon Brothers Ltd. Longford, Co. Longford  and Fermoy, Co. Cork Large www.glennonbrothers.ie
GPWood Enniskeane, Co. Cork Large www.gpwood.ie
Murray Timber Group Ltd. Ballygar, Co. Galway andBallon, Co. Carlow Large www.mtg.ie
Coolrain Sawmills Ltd Coolrain, Co. Laois Medium www.gardendeckingfencing.ie
Laois Sawmills Ltd Portlaoise, Co. Laois Medium http://www.laoissawmills.com/
Woodfab Timber Ltd Aughrim, Co. Wicklow Medium www.woodfabtimber.ie

(After Drima market research survey)

In total, Irish sawmills processed 1.7 million cubic metres of roundwood timber in 2011 with 80% supplied by Coillte and the balance supplied by imported logs and by the private forest sector. This converted into 867,000 cubic metres of sawn timber.

The primary products produced by the Irish sawmills are mainly construction/structural timber, pallet/packaging timber and fencing products.

Domestic demand for sawn products has fallen in recent years as a result of the decline in the construction sector but exports have increased significantly ( 227%) over the 10 year period from 2000-10.

The main export markets for sawn softwood timber are Northern Ireland and Britain but new export markets have been developed in France, Netherlands and Turkey.

In 2011 some 462,000 cubic metres of sawn softwood timber were exported from sawmills in the Republic of Ireland valued at €61 million.

The sector also supplies significant volumes of sawmill residues (bark, savings, sawdust and wood chips) to the panel products and energy sectors.

Further information at:

An Overview of the Irish Forestry and Forest Products Sector 2015

By Irish Forestry and Forest Products Association