Timber Development UK’s (TDUK) report on import statistics for the first quarter of 2025 reveal that chipboard imports were stable in volume but saw an 11% drop in value due to a 12% fall in average price. Supply shifts included losses of -25% from Portugal and gains from Spain (+12%) and Luxembourg.
“Although chipboard imports in Q1 2025 were at very similar levels as in Q1 2024, the composition of this volume reveals some significant changes in the pattern of supply,” said the report, adding that each of the top three supplying countries supplied less volume in Q1 2025, with France supplying just under 3% less, Belgium just under 1% less and Germany just under 2% less. The largest loss was recorded from Portugal, down by a quarter, accounting for more than 4,000m3 less volume in Q1 2025. Of the leading group, only Spain increased volume, by 12%.
The most significant change has been the claiming of a 4% share of supply by Luxembourg, just outside the leading group of supplying countries.
When TTJ spoke to someone with an intimate knowledge of the UK panel industry, he noted that the two major markets that chipboard is linked to – housebuilding and furniture – “had shown signs of picking up in Q1 2025, but things have gone back a bit since. The market is ticking over but we’re not seeing real growth,” he said.
He added that the housebuilding statistics from the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) showed a very slight increase year-on-year January 2024 to January 2025, but “very slight” amounted to only 2.1%.
Resin costs are apparently more stable and are anticipated to remain so, said the manufacturer.
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