The foreign trade balance comprises imports and exports of all wood based goods. The total trade is subdivided into the commodity groups roundwood and residues, semi-finished wood products, pulp, paper and paperboard and finished wood based products.

The general wood balance draws total supply and total use of wood and wood based products in Germany annually. Wood and wood based products subsume all wood based raw materials as well as semi-finished and finished products. On the supply side, the wood balance comprises the logged volume (fellings), the quantity of domestic recovered paper and recovered wood and the imports. The use side shows the exports and (apparent) domestic consumption. Changes in stocks of wood products are also recorded.

The roundwood balance contrasts supply and use of roundwood in Germany. The supply consists of the logged volume (fellings) and imports. The use side consists of exports and domestic consumption. Changes in stocks of roundwood are also recorded.