Total revenue in Canada's logging industry dropped by 4.9% from 2022, reaching C$11.7 billion in 2023, with equal contributions from contract and non-contract sectors. Revenue from core logging activities alone decreased by 4.4% to C$10.9 billion, driven by a 16.2% decline in the average price of logs and related products, according to Statistics Canada.
Total expenses fell by 5.3%, exceeding the revenue drop, to C$11.1 billion, or 95 cents per dollar earned. Material costs for the industry dropped 1.1% to C$5.5 billion, while energy and fuel costs edged down by 1.0%. Salaries and wages declined 2.9% to C$1.7 billion, with contract loggers responsible for 70.1% of these expenses, spending 22 cents per dollar compared to 9 cents by their non-contract counterparts. Image: Revenue from logging activities, 2012 to 2023 / Statistics Canada
Regional disparities emerged in 2023, as British Columbia experienced the sharpest decline in logging revenue, down C$714 million to C$4.7 billion. New Brunswick followed with a C$26 million drop to C$682 million. In contrast, Alberta, Quebec, and Ontario saw increases of C$111 million, C$96 million, and C$39 million, respectively, partially offsetting the national decline.
