CECAEN Rev 3
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Sections Correlation Guide About the Project Contact
Group 161

Sawing and planing of wood

This macro-category covers primary wood processing activities, from cutting logs into timber to planing and preservation treatments. Basically, it is the starting point for transforming raw wood into usable materials for construction, furniture or packaging, being an essential link in the value chain of the wood industry.

Included Activities & Applicability

  • ✅ Sawing and cutting logs into timber
  • ✅ beams
  • ✅ railway sleepers; Planing and smoothing of wood; Production of firewood and pellets; Impregnation and chemical treatment of wood; Industrial drying of wood; Production of wooden flooring and paneling.

Excluded Activities & Restrictions

  • ❌ Forestry and logging (NACE 02);
  • ❌ Manufacture of wooden furniture (NACE 31);
  • ❌ Manufacture of paper and wood pulp (NACE 17);
  • ❌ Wood construction (NACE 41-43).

Subordinate Structure

1611 Sawing and planing of wood
→
1612 Processing and finishing of wood
→

Detailed Analysis & Commercial Insights

Sawing and planing of wood industry in Romania

The industry of sawing and planing wood, coded under NACE 161, represents the foundation of mechanical wood processing in Romania. This economic activity transforms logs from forestry operations into essential semi-finished products, such as timber, railway sleepers, beams, or paneling. In the Romanian economic context, the forestry and wood processing sector has a long-standing tradition, with our country ranking among the main European producers of timber. The macroeconomic importance of this niche stems from its role as a supplier of raw materials for construction, furniture, and packaging industries, which contribute significantly to GDP and exports. Over the past decades, the sector has undergone gradual modernization, with investments in high-yield cutting machinery and artificial drying capacities, enabling the production of competitive products on the foreign market. However, challenges remain significant. Entrepreneurs active in sawing and planing wood face fluctuations in raw material prices, caused by forestry policies and competition for quality logs. Bureaucracy related to timber traceability, especially through the SUMAL system, is another obstacle, as is the need to comply with increasingly stringent environmental standards regarding wood waste management. Also, the energy efficiency of drying and treatment processes becomes crucial in the context of rising utility costs. Nevertheless, the constant demand for timber for construction and furniture, fueled by the European trend of wooden houses and sustainable materials, offers solid development prospects for companies that manage to adapt and innovate in primary wood processing.