GTI Report: Timber sector edges forward in March amid rising

Biodiversity in Redencao, Para, Brazil. © Teakrc

The timber sector in China, Thailand, Ecuador, and the Republic of the Congo posted growth in March 2026, despite increasing challenges in global timber supply chains, according to the latest Global Timber Index (GTI) Report. The ITTO-supported GTI tracks the performance of the timber sector in pilot countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. 

Among the ten pilot countries, China (61.1%), Thailand (55.9%), Ecuador (50.8%), and the Congo (50.3%) recorded GTI readings above the 50% threshold, indicating an upward trend in their timber sectors. Other countries were in contraction territory: Brazil (47.7%), Ghana (46.5%), and Mexico (46.4%) posted readings indicating moderate contraction, while Indonesia (42.9%), Gabon (39.5%), and Malaysia (31.8%) recorded a notable slowdown. 

The sub-indices indicated that pilot countries in Asia performed relatively well in the month. Harvesting volume increased in both Indonesia and Thailand compared to February, while production volume and new orders rose in Thailand and China.  

The GTI-Woodbased Panel Index, a specialized index for wood-based panels, stood at 50.7%, suggesting little change in conditions in the subsector. However, the GTI-Producers Index, a specialized index for timber production, was at 46.0%, indicating some weakness in that area. 

In March, heightened tensions in the Middle East drove up fuel prices in most GTI pilot countries, leading to higher costs for timber harvesting, domestic transport, processing, and export logistics. Some timber enterprises also experienced disruptions to shipping routes and delays in deliveries, and in some cases, orders were canceled or put on hold.  

In response to these shocks, timber operators in some pilot countries adopted proactive measures, including working to diversify export markets—including in neighboring countries to control logistics costs—seeking alternative transport routes, negotiating contract adjustments, and calling on governments to lower or stabilize fuel prices and provide other relief. 

Regional tensions, trade frictions, and rising energy and transportation costs highlight shared challenges confronting the global timber industry. Against this backdrop, the Global Legal and Sustainable Timber Forum (GLSTF) 2026 issued its first announcement in March. Under the theme “Innovation and Transformation – Exploring Pathways for Resilient and Sustainable Global Timber Industries”, the Forum will convene in Macao SAR, China on 22–23 September 2026. 

The latest GTI Report also highlights efforts to advance traceability in pilot countries, including a push in Thailand to develop systems that comply with the European Union Deforestation Regulation, and Gabon's announcement of a new national data center to ensure the full traceability of logs from forest sites to export ports. 

The monthly GTI Report, GTI-Producers Report and GTI-WBP Report are available at www.itto.int/gti.