The latest available TTF Timber Statistics – Industry Facts & Figures, May 2019 reveal that imports for the first two months of this year were significantly higher than the same period in 2018. They were up by 17%, a fact attributed to the poor start to last year caused by challenging weather conditions.

Solid wood imports were up 25% in volume for the first two months of this year, compared to January-February in 2018, while panel products were up by a more modest 6%. And the TTF notes that overall import volumes for February 2019 were nearly 21% higher than February 2018.

Looking at softwood imports, cumulative volumes to February were 1.146 million m3 this year, against 918,000m3 last year. All of the leading supplier countries increased their volumes to the UK – Germany by 50%, Latvia by 39% and Ireland by 38%. Swedish volumes also increased but by a more modest 6%, a fact that has affected its market share, which fell from 49% to 42% in January-February.

The value of softwood imports in January- February was also up – 19% higher than the same period of 2018 – while the value of sawn goods was higher by 20%. The value of planed goods was up by 18.5%.

Hardwood imports were also significantly up in the first two months of this year compared to the same period in 2018. Cumulative volumes to February were 90,000m3, up from 73,000m3 in 2018, which represents a 27.7% increase.

Each of the leading supplier countries recorded higher volumes to the UK but while that includes the US, its volumes have grown at a slower rate than other leading countries. This has resulted in it losing market share of hardwood exports to the UK, down from 20% to 17%. Estonia, meanwhile has increased its market share from 10% to 17%.

Plywood imports were up 0.4% in the January-February year-on-year comparison. Cumulative volumes to February were 336,000m3, against 334,000m3 in 2018.

Within that, hardwood plywood imports were up 8.7%. Cumulative volumes to February were 173,000m3, against 159,000m3 to February 2018. February itself saw imports of hardwood plywood 11% above February 2018, thanks to increased volumes from China, which registered a 60% share of the UK hardwood plywood import market in February (up from 51% in February 2018).

Finnish volumes doubled, while Russia’s stayed virtually the same and Malaysia and Indonesia registered lower volumes.

Softwood plywood imports suffered a drop of 7.1% in January-February based on the year-on-year comparison. Cumulative volumes to February were 163,000m3, against 176,000m3 to February 2018. February itself saw the biggest drop, with softwood plywood imports falling by 20% on February 2018.

Imports from Brazil fell by 14% but its share of UK import volumes was up to 60% in February, up from 56% in February 2018. Volumes from Finland and Chile were up but those from China were down.

Chipboard imports were up 16.3% for the period, with cumulative volumes to February at 167,000m3, against 143,000m3 to February 2018. Imports in February were up by 27%, which is attributed to higher volumes from Germany, Belgium and Portugal. Volumes from France and Ireland remained very similar to those in February 2018.

OSB imports were up by 20.2% in January-February in the year-on-year comparison with 2018. Cumulative volumes to February were 81,000m3 this year against 67,000m3 last year.

MDF imports were only slightly up in January-February – by 0.1% – with cumulative volumes to both February 2019 and February 2018 at around 120,000m3.