Timber imports are a key activity within the international trade of natural resources and play a fundamental role in the forestry industry, construction, furniture manufacturing, and paper production. This trade involves the acquisition of different types of wood from producing regions to markets that, for various reasons, lack sufficient forest resources or require specific types of wood that are not locally available.

Globalization and the growing demand for sustainable materials have driven the commercialization of both softwoods, such as pine and fir, and hardwoods, including mahogany, oak, and ebony. The main timber-exporting regions include Latin America, Southeast Asia, and parts of Africa, while the major importers are countries with developed industries such as the United States, China, and Europe.