Most of the cross-laminated timber (CLT) in the world is spruce, and where that spruce grows shapes what a panel costs and how it behaves.
Central European softwood forests are often owned by governments, families, or individuals and managed for long-term production, with strict rules on harvest and processing. Much of the U.S. supply is owned by private companies whose harvest decisions follow short-term markets. The result is a more stable supply and more consistent lamella quality in Europe, which is why European CLT stays competitive here even after shipping.
That is not the whole story. North American mills are growing fast, and local forestry deserves support. When we source a package we weigh price, lead time, visual grade, and where the fiber came from, and we tell you which mill it is. Idealizing European practice is easy; the honest answer is that both supply chains have a place, and the project decides.
Where the fiber grows is half of the sourcing question. The other half is which species and grade go into the package.
Adapted with permission from a note by our colleagues at Red Falls Timber Co.
