AbstractRed pine (Pinus brutia Ten.) is the most common tree species in Turkey, where it covers almost 6 million hectares. The first thinning of red pine stands is a fundamental tending measure that may yield between 4 and 12 dry tons of biomass per hectare. While this is not a very large amount per se, it is larger than obtained from the recovery of logging residues from final felling operations, which have represented the main subject of previous studies. What is more, valorization of the non‐commercial biomass component can boost work productivity and increase owner revenues, with strong benefits on the financial sustainability of an operation that normally incurs substantial cost and tends to be neglected. Therefore, increased use of biomass can support proper tending of young stands and a general improvement of their quality and future value. The study also indicates that small‐tree size favors whole‐tree harvesting, even when performed with animal or manual power, as customary in Turkey and in most developing economies. Whole‐tree chipping is probably the best option in stands growing on poor yield sites, whereas multi‐product harvesting is advisable on good yield sites. This study addresses specifically Turkish red pine, but it frames a general paradigm that applies to most forest stands and countries, and as such it can be generalized to a great extent. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd