Timber product prices appear to be softening as demand weakens, according to the latest Timber Trade Federation statistics bulletin.
The October issue also says only plywood and OSB imports show growth in the seven months to July, compared to the same period a year ago.
Import volumes in the first seven months of 2011 were 9% lower than a year ago, with solid wood down 13.6% and panel products higher by 1.8%.
Overall import volumes for the main timber and panel products in July were down 24.5% compared to the same month in 2010, while volumes for the first seven months were down 450,000m³ (nearly 9%).
Softwood imports were down 13.6% to 2.788 million m³ in January-July, with Sweden registering a 47% market share and Finland and Latvia both in second place on 13%. Imports during July were 29% below July, 2010.
Hardwood imports in the period fell 12.9% to 248,000m³, with the US increasing its leading market share to 25%, while France and Italy registered 22% and 25% volume boosts respectively.
All plywood imports were up 6.7% to 803,000m³, with hardwood plywood, the majority of the market, seeing a 5.7% rise to 530,000m³.
Chipboard imports fell 6.6% to 253,000m³. Germany is the leading supplier with a 33% share of the market, followed by France at 28%. Exports suffered a 31.1% reverse.
For more details visit www.TTF.co.uk
