During the General Assembly of the European Organisation of the Sawmill Industry (EOS), held on 27 May in Vienna, the organisation announced the addition of two new members: Filiera Legno from Italy and Forest Industries Ireland. A clear sign of EOS’s growing influence within the European wood industry.
On the same occasion, EOS elected its new president: Tommi Sneck, Director of the Timber Industry Division at Koskisen Oyj (Finland), succeeds Herbert Joebstl, who was warmly thanked by the members for his dedication over the past four years. Sneck outlined his priorities for the future, highlighting the need to address EU environmental policies, such as nature credits and the LULUCF strategy, while also positioning wood at the core of the bioeconomy transition. “Our sector must play a leading role in building the sustainable and resilient value chains Europe is calling for”, he stated.
The Assembly also featured a market outlook by analyst Russ Taylor, who offered insight into global trends. His presentation highlighted ongoing issues in North America—ranging from duties on Canadian lumber and trade uncertainty to declining US housing demand—as well as a sluggish recovery in China, where demand is currently concentrated in niche areas such as furniture and interior design. Taylor stressed the importance of competitiveness and access to information for European producers.
Despite a still-uncertain environment, EOS reported a modest 1% increase in production across its member countries in 2024 compared to 2023. These countries account for approximately 80% of total European sawnwood output. The 2024/2025 Annual Report, presented during the Assembly, will be available online from mid-June.
The next major EOS event will be the International Softwood Conference, scheduled for 22–23 October 2025 in Oslo.
