Europe’s sawmill industry waits, after spending to comply to deforestation regulation

A quiet contradiction is taking shape across Europe’s sawmill sector. Over the past two years, producers have committed significant capital to meet the requirements of the EU Deforestation Regulation—building traceability systems, upgrading digital infrastructure and restructuring supply chains to demonstrate that every cubic metre of wood is deforestation-free. The expectation was that compliance would quickly become a market standard. Instead, implementation has been pushed back. The proposed delay to December 2026 offers temporary relief from immediate obligations, but it also shifts the economic logic behind these investments. Companies that moved early did so anticipating clearer market ...