Markets Archive

High demand catches importers off guard
05 August 2020 Demand has improved beyond expectation but whether this is a “bubble” of activity or a longer term trend remains to be seen. TTJ’s Softwood Specialist reports

Essential Products Provider
09 June 2020 TIMCON summarises market dynamics and activities for the UK pallet sector in Q1 and since the Covid-19 crisis started

No time for living on the hardwood edge
09 June 2020 With sales reported down 60-65% in April and no clear route yet out of lockdown, traders expect the pandemic to be a long haul for the hardwood sector. Mike Jeffree reports

New Phase of Covid-19 Begins
05 June 2020 The UK has moved into a new phase in its response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the government clearly wants to try and re-start elements of the UK economy. Stephen Powney reports

Coping with COVID-19
17 April 2020 The Irish timber sector was looking forward to a year of recovery following the trials of 2019, but coronavirus has changed everything. Sally Spencer reports

Interesting times ahead for softwood
30 March 2020 The softwood sector is facing a variety of challenges this year, from warm weather impacting harvesting, to industrial action and insect invasions. TTJ’s Softwood Specialist reports

Better Prospects
30 March 2020 Chipboard market sentiment has improved since the General Election and clear decision over Brexit, reports Stephen Powney

Falling timber prices hit fencing sector
28 January 2020 Fencing timber has fallen victim to the weaker prices that dogged structural timber for much of 2019

Highway to Hardwood Market growth
18 December 2019 Last month’s International Hardwood Conference demonstrated a new energy and focus in the sector. Mike Jeffree reports

Tougher times ahead
18 December 2019 An over abundance of European and Scandinavian softwood combined with Brexit worries have impacted demand and forced sawn timber prices down for Irish mills. Sally Spencer reports

Little Change in Chipboard Trading
23 October 2019 There is a mix of views on the current state of the UK chipboard market but whatever the perspective, no-one is using positive superlatives. Keren Fallwell reports

Challenges all round for softwood
23 October 2019 Trade in softwood has been tumultuous this year but this month may see more stability. Jerry Wilson reports

Brisk business sums up year to date
17 September 2019 It’s been a good year for fencing, while the pallet sector witnessed a boom in demand in the first quarter thanks to pre-Brexit stockpiling. Sally Spencer reports

Report shows low US hardwood risk
26 August 2019 New evaluation of the American hardwood sector will strengthen customer confidence in its environmental credentials. Mike Jeffree reports

Time to run a tight ship
21 August 2019 Traders are in little doubt Brexit is hitting hardwood market confidence. Mike Jeffree reports

Imports erode MDF price gains
29 July 2019 UK demand for MDF is stable, if unremarkable, but European imports are putting downward pressure on prices. Keren Fallwell reports

Swedish mills positive despite UK oversupply
17 June 2019 The UK is the largest export market for Swedish softwood, but an oversupply at UK ports is depressing prices. Stephen Powney talks to the Swedish Forest Industries Federation about its current take on markets and the health of its sawmilling industry

Timber prices soften
16 May 2019 Our latest market update on the fencing and pallets sector sees a lot more stability and even downward pressure on raw material prices, while good weather has also provided a welcome boost to demand, reports Stephen Powney.

Traders resigned to flat market
15 May 2019 A combination of weaker demand around the world and oversupply has softened the market for plywood and OSB. Traders are hoping a Brexit decision in October and traditional autumn demand will lift business. Keren Fallwell reports

Brexit hits hardwood
15 May 2019 Brexit and a global slowdown are creating competitive conditions in the UK hardwood sector. Mike Jeffree reports.