The latest Timber Trade Federation (TTF) statistics reveal that the recovery of timber and panel imports continued in the month of October 2020, with volume 21% higher than in October 2019. These increased volumes have been accompanied by higher prices.

TTF Timber Statistics – Industry Facts & Figures, January 2021 shows that imports of the main timber and panel products rose above the 1 million m3 mark in the month of October, building on the previous three months of strong import performance.

The improved figures of the early autumn have been led by the OSB and softwood import sectors, followed by higher volumes of plywood and MDF compared to the same 2019 period, said the TTF.

Despite that, many of the import figures are still preceded by the minus symbol when looking at year-on-year comparisons.

Softwood imports from January-October 2020 were down 7.5% on the same period in 2019, with cumulative volume at 5,175,000m3 (2019: 5,596,000m3). However, for the month of October alone, import volume exceeded 700,000m3, which is the highest October volume since 2003.

Sweden, Latvia, Germany and Russia all exported more to the UK in the month, compared to October 2019.

The continued improvement in the value of softwood imports has reduced the deficit over 2019 from 25% in the eight months to August, to 14% in the 10 months to October. Hardwood imports from January-October 2020 were down 19.4% on the same period of 2019, with cumulative volume at 367,000m3 (2019: 455,000m3).

Volumes have recovered since the spring, but not to the same levels as 2019 and much of the weaker performance is down to lower volumes from Estonia and Latvia. Between January-October, these two countries each exported almost 40% less volume than in 2019. Volume from France was down 15% and from Italy it was down 12%. Volume from North America has improved.

Total plywood imports were down 9% on the comparison periods, with cumulative volume January-October at 1,141,000m3 (2019: 1,253,000m3).

Within this, hardwood plywood imports were down by 6.3%, with cumulative volume at 743,000m3 (2019: 793,000m3).

China’s and Malaysia’s shipments to the UK are up 8% and 15% respectively. In the month of October, China increased its hardwood plywood volume to the UK by 14,000m3, compared to October 2019.

Softwood plywood imports were 13.6% down on the comparison periods, with cumulative volume January-October at 398,000m3 (2019: 460,000m3).

Finland, China, Chile and France all recorded heavy losses in volume, which was counterbalanced by a much lower fall in volume from Brazil and a substantial increase from South Africa. The latter has seen its share of supply to the UK rise from 0.5% to 5% in the 10-month comparison periods. Chipboard import volume is down 35.8% – more than 250,000m3 – in January-October 2020 as against the same 2019 period. Cumulative volume for the period was 475,000m3 (2019: 739,000m3).

The biggest losses in volume were experienced by Germany, France and Portugal, which between them accounted for nearly 90% of the reduction.

OSB import volume was down 3.6% in the 10-month comparison period, with cumulative volume to January-October 2020 at 327,000m3 (2019: 339,000m3). MDF import volume was down by 10% with cumulative volume to January-October 2020 at 553,000m3 (2019: 615,000m3).