New Statistics on Forestry Contractors

Nyhet | Statistik - 05 November 2026

The Swedish Forest Agency presents new statistics regarding forestry contractors for 2024. The statistics are the result of ongoing development work aimed at improving statistics related to enterprises engaged in forestry contracting. The statistics are under development, and the figures for 2024 may be revised at the next publication.

The statistics are based on data on forestry contractors certified under the PEFC group certification scheme and identified as primarily engaged in forestry contracting. The enterprises are classified by type of forestry contracting activity, country of registration (Sweden or abroad), and other characteristics.

Number of Forestry Contractor Enterprises

In 2024, the statistics covered 3 657 forestry contractor enterprises. Of these, 3 613 were registered in Sweden and 44 were registered abroad. Harvesting contractors accounted for 60 per cent of the enterprises covered by the statistics.

Financial indicators

For forestry contractor enterprises registered in Sweden, median values for operating margin, net margin and equity ratio are presented by employee size class.

For forestry contractor enterprises registered in Sweden, the median operating margin was 17,7 per cent, the median net margin was 15,6 per cent and the median equity ratio was 47,4 per cent.

Table 1. Financial indicators for forestry contractor enterprises registered in Sweden by employee size class (number of employees), 2024

Employee size class	Operating margin, percent, median	Net margin, percent, median	Equity ratio, percent, median
0 empolyees	41,5	37,9	59,3
1-4 empolyees	14,2	12,4	45,5
5-9 empolyees	11,0	8,5	35,8
10-19 empolyees	8,4	7,2	39,3
20-49 empolyees	8,8	6,2	32,0
50- empolyees	4,6	5,0	40,2
Total	17,7	15,6	47,4

Source: Statistics Sweden, Structural Business Statistics (Företagens ekonomi, FEK), reference year 2024.

Please note that the statistics are under development and may be revised next year.

The figures regarding the number of enterprises and the financial indicators are based on partly different data sources and population definitions. The enterprises underlying the financial indicators therefore do not correspond exactly to those included in the figures for the number of enterprises.

Statistics under development

The statistics are under development, and the methods used to produce them are being reviewed ahead of the next publication in 2027. Statistics for both 2024 and 2025 will be published at that time. The statistics are also planned to be expanded to include additional information, such as the number of employees reported separately by enterprise size class (based on the number of employees) and by region, as well as financial indicators by type of forestry contracting. The figures for 2024 will be reproduced again for the next publication and therefore may be revised.

Explanations

Type of forestry contracting is divided into the following categories:

• Harvesting contractor
• Silvicultural contractor
• Forest planning contractor
• Uncategorised

The financial indicators are presented as median values.

Operating margin is operating profit as a percentage of net sales. The measure indicates how much each unit of sales contributes to covering interest expenses and generating profit.

Net margin is net profit as a percentage of net sales. The measure indicates the surplus per unit of sales after operating expenses, depreciation and interest expenses.

Equity ratio is adjusted equity as a percentage of total assets. The measure describes the enterprise's long-term financial stability.

More results are available in the Swedish Forest Agency’s statistical database.