Softwood imports slide 20.3%

UK softwood imports from January-September were down 20.3% compared with a year ago, according to the latest statistics released by The Timber Trade Federation.

Panels imports were down by 32%, with all timber imports 24% down on last year.

The cumulative softwood volume for the nine months was 3.65 million m³, down from 4.58 million m³ a year ago. Sweden’s market share increased to 55% of all UK softwood imports during the period, followed by Finland (12%), Latvia (10%), Germany (6%) and Ireland (5%). Imports from Ireland increased by 20,000m³.

Hardwood imports fell 16.6% to 271,000m³, with the US’s leading market share of 24% falling 3.8% but still comfortably ahead of the next biggest exporter to the UK, Germany, which had a 8.7% share.