UK timber product import volumes reduce

Import volumes in Q2 were 3.5% lower than in Q2, 2014, while for the first half of 2015 imports were 1.3% (60,000m3) less than a year ago. Total imports from January to June were 4.67 million m3.

Solid wood imports were around 2% lower than a year ago, while imports of panel products were less than 1% lower. Softwood imports in the six month period were down 1.1% to 2.96 million m3, with the four leading supplier countries - Sweden, Latvia, Finland and Russia - recording growth or similar volumes to a year ago. Russia achieved the highest growth - up 16% from a year ago.

The value of softwood imports was down around 6% or by €36m. The value of total sawn imports was down by €32m (8%) to €353m but planed imports fared better, reducing by only 2% to €195m.

Hardwood import volumes reduced by 9% to 217,000m3, largely due a drop in shipments from the US and Cameroon, while volumes from France, Germany and Malaysia also declined.

Plywood import volumes were up 10.8% to 769,000m3, with hardwood ply shipments increasing by 15.8% to 512,000m3.

Of the other panel product imports, OSB showed a 17.1% increase to 133,000m3. For more information visit www.ttf.co.uk