Supply and demand: timber for modern construction

For modern construction, which requires laminated wood beams or XLAM (X-Lam) structural panels with extremely high strength, fir and pine are the preferred choices. Imported conifers (primarily from Austria) offer the standardized mechanical properties required for construction sites. However, there are limitations to Italian forests: Italian timber (often hardwoods such as beech and chestnut) does not grow in a way that is optimized for large, standardized structural panels and often comes from remote mountainous areas, which drive up harvesting costs.