Wisconsin exported around $1.3 billion worth of forest products in 2022. Photo credit: DNR
The economic impact of Wisconsin’s forests cannot be understated.
The annual value of products from Wisconsin’s forest industry is over $24 billion, representing 2.3% of the state’s gross domestic product. Forest industries in Wisconsin employ around 58,000 individuals.
The economic influence of Wisconsin’s forest products industry extends to other sectors through inter-industry transactions and household spending. The forest products industry contributed an additional 66,000 jobs and $13.1 billion in output, bringing the total to over 123,000 jobs and $38 billion in production tied to the forest products sector. To help contextualize the scale of that impact, consider this: For every ten jobs in the forest products industry, 11 jobs were created in other areas of the economy.
The forest products industry ranked 12th in terms of full- and part-time jobs, sixth in value-added, and second in industry output in Wisconsin.
Some fast facts about Wisconsin’s forest industry:
- It is the number one employer in seven counties: Florence, Marathon, Price, Rusk, Taylor, Trempealeau and Winnebago.
- It is the number one industry for value-added in nine counties: Brown, Florence, Marathon, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor, Trempealeau and Winnebago.
- It is number one for industry output in 16 counties: Ashland, Brown, Chippewa, Dunn, Florence, Iron, Marinette, Oneida, Outagamie, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Trempealeau, Waupaca, Winnebago and Wood.
In 2022, Wisconsin exported around $1.3 billion worth of forest products. The state’s annual forestry product exports, valued at about $1 billion, represent around 4% of its total exports, and Wisconsin forestry products are steadily gaining popularity in international markets.
Each year, more than 55% of Wisconsin’s wood-product exports and over 60% of its paper-product exports go to Canada. In 2022, Wisconsin exported more than $140 million in wood products and around $700 million in paper products to Canada.
China is the second-largest importer of Wisconsin’s wood products, purchasing $40 million worth in 2022.
Mexico is the second-largest importer of Wisconsin’s paper products, importing more than $114 million in paper products in 2022.
Learn more about the importance of forestry to the Wisconsin economy.