The year 2017 was characterized by a large number of fires. The forestry burned up area increased from around 168 thousand ha in 2016 to 502 thousand ha in 2017, with an increase in removals and a decrease of the price of wood, as well as a growth of forestry services to maximum levels. The Gross Value Added (GVA) of forest decreased in volume and in nominal terms (2.3% and 1.0%, respectively), with intermediate consumption increasing. Cork production was not very affected by fires, with a significant increase in prices (+9.1%) more than compensating the decrease in volume (-2.9%).
In 2018, the trade balance of products of forest origin (including materials within the Economic Accounts for Forestry and industrial products of forest origin) recorded a surplus of 2.6 billion Euros, compared to 2.5 billion Euros in 2017. Cork products were the most important group, with a trade surplus of 932.4 million Euros, 36.3 million Euros more than in 2017.