Glue Laminated Timber Market Report Scope & Overview:

The glue laminated timber market size was valued at USD 7.65 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 11.53 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 5.27% over the forecast period of 2025-2032.

Sustainable construction and aesthetic residential and commercial designs are the key driving factors for the glue laminated timber market. Rising trend of using Glue Laminated Timber and engineered wood beams/engineered wood products for mass timber texture in architectural applications, for strong glue laminated timber market growth. Another significant trend in the glue laminated timber market analysis has been Stora Enso's €900m (USD 1027.88 million) sale of Swedish forests to guarantee long-term supply through a 15-year wood agreement.

According to the American Wood Council, residential is 59% of North American Glue Laminated Timber; non-residential is 36%, and the remainder is in other uses, according to the American Wood Council.

Key regional manufacturers have a market share of more than 75% in the glue laminated timber market. The developments further illustrate the evolving glue laminated timber market trends, as glue laminated timber manufacturers establish competition in the global glue laminated timber market sizing through innovation, vertical integration, and environmental performance.

Market Dynamics:

Drivers:

• Significant Carbon Emission Reductions Through Glulam Drive Sustainable Construction Adoption

The demand for glue laminated timber among construction industry players continues to surge on the back of its high sustainability features. Research has proven that using an engineered wood beam or engineered wood products in place of concrete and steel can help reduce the construction-phase CO₂ emissions by about 69%, which translates to 216 kg of CO₂ equivalent being saved per m² of building space. The environmental advantage dovetails with international goals to reduce carbon emissions from buildings, which account for 39% of energy-related emissions globally. As a result, the market trend for glue laminated timber is expected to grow due to the growing demand in the residential, commercial, and institutional sectors to obtain a green building certification, which further augments the growth of the glue laminated timber market globally.

• Expanding Wood Innovation Grants and Incentives Stimulate Glulam Industry Investment and Innovation

The glue laminated timber market is also witnessing support from government incentives, driving innovation and production scale expansion. The U.S. Department of Agriculture set aside USD 41 million for fiscal year 2023 for the Wood Innovations Grant Program for the sustainable development of wood products, such as glue laminated timber. Through the Inflation Reduction Act, up to USD 100 million is available to support these advanced wood product efforts, which would incentivize the glue laminated timber industry to invest in R&D on better adhesives and manufacturing processes. These resources also contribute to improving sustainable forest management for the provision of raw materials. Such backing increases North American laminated timber industry capacity and drives further engineered wood beams or engineered wood products use, and enhances favorable conditions for the glue laminated timber market.

Restraints:

• Inconsistent Raw Material Supply Chain and Price Fluctuations Constrain Glulam Growth

The glue laminated timber industry is confronted with raw material fluctuations and price instability. The U.S. Forest Service says that timber sales have been consistently lower than targets, hitting an average of 2.979 million MBF per year from 2014 to 2023, compared to a target of 3.314 million MBF. The supply is very much checkerboarded by staffing shortages, wildfire effects, and auction failures. Price volatility in the raw materials of timber and adhesive makes the glue laminated timber company to forecast costs effectively, increase financial risk, and also limit the extent to meet the market glue laminated timber demand. These supply chain limitations are impeding the growth of the glue-laminated timber market and hampering the stability of the market in a prominent region, such as North America.

Segmentation Analysis:

By Grade

Framing grade dominated and held the largest share of the glue laminated timber market in 2024 at 47.9%. This segment commands a lead since it is mostly used for structural applications in both single and multi-family housing, and the factors of importance are cost, strength, and compliance with codes. Framing-grade Glue Laminated Timber was used in more than 60% of Wood Innovations Program-funded mass timber projects in 2024, according to the U.S. Forest Service. According to the American Wood Council, much of the low- to mid-rise construction in North America now uses framing-grade engineered wood beams for equal load-carrying capacity and availability, thus becoming the engineered wood of choice for architects and builders in the residential segment.

Premium grade was the fastest growing segment, registering a CAGR of 6.09% in the glue laminated timber market over the forecast period of 2025-2032. Its popularity is growing, and more and more people want to have their custom-made smoke bombs for various applications in entertainment and photography. The U.S. General Services Administration selected premium Glue Laminated Timber in the renovation of Federal Center South not just for aesthetics but also to meet LEED v4 requirements. The Architectural Woodwork Institute also noted 22% more orders for visible-grade EWP used in public spaces and museums, further evidencing the GLT market growth for high-end and environmental projects where finish quality and low emissions are more and more being emphasized.

By Beam Shape

In 2024, straight beams accounted for a 57.6% share of the market for glue laminated timber. Their predominance is driven by the standard size, inexpensive manufacturing, and the established regulatory experience. According to the American Wood Council, straight columns of Glue Laminated Timber, which are nearly 70% of beams installed within educational facilities and institutional buildings. The USDA Forest Products Laboratory also recommends straight columns for use in the construction of permanent structures and poles, and columns allow more load to be carried than slabs or planks. Glulam manufacturers continue to invest in straight-beam production on account of their ease of production, faster delivery times, and wide application in the structure of structural frameworks within the North American Glue Laminated Timber industry.

Curved beams are expected to be the fastest-growing in the market for glue laminated timber, with a CAGR of 5.81%, in terms of value, over 2025-2032. There is growing interest in them among architects for tailored naturalistic commercial and civic infrastructure. According to the Wood Products Council, businesses seeking curved Glue Laminated Timber designs are up 18% from the previous year. Iconic projects, including the University of Tennessee’s Walters Life Sciences Building, integrate curved Glue Laminated Timber trusses to create a balance between aesthetic and structural requirements. National Park Service guidance also encourages curved designs of modern visitor centers, driving glue laminated timber market trends toward complex, architecturally expressive engineered wood beams applications.

By Glue Type

Phenol formaldehyde (PF) adhesives accounted for a major share of the glue laminated timber market with 54.8% in 2024. They are preferred for this use for their durability and resistance to water in both indoor and outdoor structural Glue Laminated Timber. Timber design manuals issued by the American Wood Council reference phenol formaldehyde as the industry standard in strength and durability, particularly for bridges and exterior decking. Research conducted by the USDA Forest Products Laboratory indicates that when comparing the use of phenol formaldehyde in engineered wood products versus other adhesives, maintenance is reduced by 25% over the products’ life cycle, supporting engineered wood products' leadership position among glue laminated timber companies building long-term performance and sustainability into their product lines.

Melamine urea formaldehyde (MUF) adhesives grew fastest at a CAGR of 6.65% during the forecast period of 2025-2032. Their low-emission and indoor-friendly features have been fueling their swift penetration into health-related areas. The state of California, through the California Department of General Services, required MUF adhesives in state-funded schools to meet high indoor air quality standards. The U.S. EPA’s Healthy Schools Program also found a 33% growth in requests for MUF-bonded Glue Laminated Timber since 2022. This increase may be due to better knowledge of air standards and more investment by glue laminated timber manufacturers in safer and VOC-compliant wood products for institutional applications.

By Application

Residential applications dominated the glue laminated timber market with a 50.7% market share in 2024. It is a popular choice in residential construction as it is sustainable, strong, has a strength-to-weight ratio higher than that of steel, and is reasonably priced. Glulam timber is found in 65% of new single-family homes in the U.S., according to the American Wood Council, and much of its use is attributed directly to green building certifications like LEED and ENERGY STAR. The USDA has also provided support to several pilot homes using Glue Laminated Timber for framing elements, which achieved a 20% average reduction in the time and amount of raw materials used in construction, proving that cost savings and environmental performance are pushing Glue Laminated Timber market share in houses.

Commercial applications grew fastest with a CAGR of 5.84% during the forecast period. Glulam use increased in medium-rise retail, office, and institutional structures with the development of low-carbon foot printing and the benefits of offsite construction. Glulam is now employed in more than 40% of all commercial wood-frame buildings over four stories tall, according to WoodWorks. In Seattle, the U.S. General Services Administration recently signed a lease on a five-story commercial building built with engineered wood beams, with cost and sustainability touted. These are the examples which show the growing demand of the glue laminated timber in the commercial construction industry due to advancing emissions regulations and shortened project time.

Regional Analysis:

North America dominated the glue laminated timber market in 2024 with a 55.1% market share. Supportive building codes, green building enabled by public funding, and mass timber utilization in public infrastructure keep the North American glue-laminated timber industry in the lead. Federal projects, such as the 118,000-square-foot U.S. Embassy in Honduras, is required to use engineered wood beams per U.S. General Services Administration mandates, the top ranked country is the U.S. with a market size valued at 2.99 billion and a market share of 61%, with the support from the federal government and the funding of the Softwood Lumber Board for wood innovation projects. Next is Canada with Natural Resources Canada’s “Green Construction through Wood Program” facilitating the transition to glue laminated timber (GLT) use in mid-rise and non-residential buildings in British Columbia and Ontario, where regionally-focused investments in sustainable building materials continue to reinforce regional strength.

Asia Pacific emerged as the fastest-growing region in the glue laminated timber market in 2024, registering the highest CAGR of 6.34%. The demand for engineered wood beams is growing due to the increasing requirement for engineered wood beams in earthquake-resistant buildings. Surprisingly, timber engineering is most widespread in Japan, with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism promoting timber engineering in seismic zones. Exports of glue laminated timber for domestic school and gymnasium use jumped 28%, said the Japan Wood Products Export Association. In China, Glue Laminated Timber is becoming increasingly popular in sustainable public projects, with multiple new mass timber-based low-carbon housing units approved in Zhejiang Province. Such developments highlight the expansion of the glue laminated timber market across Asia Pacific, particularly for sustainable building.

Europe is the second-dominant region in the glue laminated timber market in 2024, holding a 27.2% share. Europe’s lead is driven by its roots in the historical use of Glue Laminated Timber in eco-sensitive design, especially in Germany, which leads the region, as part of an initiative called Holzbau Deutschland that supports timber buildings. According to the Austrian Timber Construction Association, the use of engineered wood materials in public housing rose 35%. Timber-first national France has also proposed timber use in 50% of public buildings after 2022. These measures support the EU's climate targets and mean that glue laminated timber market share in Europe is large, particularly in high-density urban projects where eco-efficient construction is needed.

Key Players:

The major competitors in the glue laminated timber market include Stora Enso Oyj, Binderholz GmbH, Mayr-Melnhof Holz Holding AG, Pfeifer Group (Pfeifer Holz GmbH), Canfor Corporation, Setra Group AB, Schilliger Holz AG, Structurlam Mass Timber Corporation, Boise Cascade Company, and Hasslacher Norica Timber (Hasslacher Holding GmbH).

Recent Developments:

• February 2025: India’s first mass timber home, The Timber Residence in Goa, was completed using glue-laminated timber, showcasing sustainable design and engineered wood innovation in residential architecture.

• May 2024:  Timberlab acquired American Laminators to expand its glue-laminated timber production, enhancing mass timber capabilities and supporting a new cross-laminated timber facility in Oregon.