The latest Timber Trade Federation Timber Statistics include the full year for 2012. Combined imports for the year were 0.1% higher than in 2011, at 7.56 million m3, up 5,000m3. But while softwood imports grew 3.8% and hardwood by 2.8%, all panel products were down, with particleboard 15% lower.
The worst performance during the five years since the start of the economic downturn in 2007 has been delivered by particleboard/OSB and softwood imports with volumes having reduced by approaching 50% for particleboard and 40% for softwood. Hardwood, plywood and MDF imports have fared better, but by the end of 2012 remained around 20% below the level of five years before, the TTF said.
For more information visit www.ttf.co.uk.
