Australia’s sawn softwood apparent consumption rose a tiny 0.4% in 2025, with calculated local sales down 1.0% and imports stable, compared with 2024.
Total apparent consumption for sawn softwood products was just over 3.0 million m3, with local production sold into the Australian market accounting for 79.9%, after exports declined 17.0% compared with 2024, falling to 190,960 m3.
The chart below shows relative stability in total annual apparent consumption over the last two years, when annualised consumption ranged from a low of 2.995 Mm3, to a peak of 3.084 Mm3.
This calculation of apparent consumption is essentially the demand profile for sawn softwood in Australia, demonstrating there is a firm base, but to date, little upside is evident from what is beginning to be improved conditions for the core housing market.
Australian Sawn Softwood Apparent Consumption: Jan 24 – Dec 25 (‘000 m3)
Source: FWPA, ABS & IndustryEdge
Three sub-grades dominate imports – but fared differently in 2025
Considered by ‘grade’ or specific product type, among the many import codes, there are three that dominate sawn softwood supplied to Australia. In 2025, these three grades contributed almost two-thirds of total imports.
Despite imports falling 25.8% in 2025, the single largest import grade remained Dressed, Treated Fir & Spruce, supplies of which totalled 161,591 m3, accounting for 26.4% of total sawn softwood imports. This is almost entirely supply from Europe, which becomes even more interesting when examining prices.
As the chart below shows, the weighted average price of these imports rose from AUDFob466.65/m3 in January 2025, peaking at AUDFob546.08/m3 in September, before finishing the year up 13.0% at AUDFob527.35/m3.
Meanwhile, operating through a narrow band, the average freight cost was very low at AUD65.03/m3 for the year. The December 2025 weighted average freight cost for this grade was AUD59.34, the lowest since May 2018. European delivered price stability is notable.
Imports of Dressed, Treated Fir & Spruce: Jan ’23 – Dec ’25 (m3, AUDFob/m3 and AUDCif/m3)
Source: ABS & IndustryEdge
Imports of Dressed, Untreated Pine lifted a colossal 48.8% in 2025, rising to second place at 129,081 m3.
As the chart below shows, the weighted average price of these imports rose from AUDFob492.29/m3 in January 2025, peaking at AUDFob628.07/m3 in September, before finishing the year up 25.7% at AUDFob618.94/m3. Meanwhile, operating through a narrow band, the average freight cost was toward the bottom of the decadal range, at AUD74.14/m3.
Imports of Dressed, Untreated Pine: Jan ’23 – Dec ’25 (m3, AUDFob/m3 and AUDCif/m3)
Source: ABS & IndustryEdge
Finally, of the ‘big three’, Dressed, Treated Radiata Pine (excluding weatherboards) saw import volumes to Australia decline 4.4% to 112,368 m3, with most supply coming from New Zealand and contributing 18.4% of total sawn softwood imports for the year.
As the chart below shows, the weighted average price of these imports rose from AUDFob841.12/m3 in January 2025, peaking in December, up 24.0% to AUDFob1,042.61/m3. At AUD94.17/m3 for the year, the average freight cost was about 15% lower than the long-term average but was comfortably the highest of the big three import grades. There is no ‘neighbourhood’ freight discount!
Imports of Dressed, Treated Radiata Pine: Jan ’23 – Dec ’25 (m3, AUDFob/m3 and AUDCif/m3)
ource: ABS & IndustryEdge
Imports from NZ climbed 41.1% in 2025
Sawn softwood shipments from New Zealand lifted sharply in 2025, rising 41.1% to 170,177 m3. The trans-Tasman imports accounted for 27.8% of the total, with Lithuania’s 93,560 m3 in second place with 15.3% of total supply.
Among the remainder, the large group of ‘Other’ countries sawn total supply lift to 193,043 m3 for the year, with close to twenty countries delivering over the year.
Australian Imports of Sawn Softwood by Country: 2024 v 2025 (m3)
Source: ABS & IndustryEdge
Imports by state followed expected patterns
Victoria continued to dominate receipt of imports in 2025, accounting for more than one-third of all imports, followed by NSW and Queensland. Those patterns of delivery returned to largely ‘normal service’ in 2025, after being quite disrupted through 2023 and the early part of 2024.
Australian Sawn Softwood Imports by State of Delivery: Jan ’20 – Dec 25 (m3)
Source: ABS & IndustryEdge
Australian Sawn Softwood Imports by State of Delivery: 2025 (%)
Source: ABS & IndustryEdge
