Swedish forestry could benefit from maintaining a greater proportion of broadleaved species in the otherwise conifer-dominated stands, since greater species diversity may improve forest resilience to disturbances. Furthermore, the demand for Swedish roundwood is predicted to continue increasing, with many projects and studies now focused on hardwood utilization. Despite a growing interest in broadleaved tree species, in recent years the number of hardwood sawmills has been declining and there is limited information about their locations and capacity.

In this work, 21 hardwood sawmills were surveyed to identify mill locations and details about their log inputs. Questions related to species and volumes used, where raw material was sourced from, and what end products were manufactured. Additional questions were asked about their most significant threats and opportunities and their level of optimism regarding the future of hardwood sawmilling in Sweden.

Survey respondents mainly processed oak and birch, approximately 87,000 and 42,000 m³sub/year, respectively (combined totals for all sawmills). The beech, alder and ash volumes were in the 1,000s of m³sub/year. All the participating hardwood sawmills were located in southern and central Sweden. The sawmills produced a range of products, including sawn timber, flooring, tabletops, fine joinery, matches and toothpicks. Most of the birch volume was used for furniture components, while oak was widely used to restore or refurbish buildings and in public outdoor environments.

The surveyed sawmills were small and source most of their inputs from nearby suppliers. Few sawmills were importing raw materials, and where imports did occur, they were generally for oak. Common issues identified when importing wood included: unreliable wood quality, high transport costs and a desire to support local suppliers.

The sawmills were optimistic about their future and the Swedish hardwood sawmilling industry. As the mills are small, they have greater flexibility and can make decisions faster, which was perceived as a competitive advantage. Sweden has a continuing demand for hardwood timber, which may encourage forest managers to invest more in broadleaved tree species.