Solid wood imports fell by 15%, while panel products were up about 9%.
Softwood imports decreased by 12.8%, with planed products dipping 5% and sawn products by 4%, with redwood up 1%, whitewood down by 7% and mixed/other species decreasing by 3%.
The value of whitewood imported was 20% lower than January 2012 and redwood value fell 6%.
The hardwood sector saw a 31.8% reverse in import volumes during the month, with Germany registering a 42% increase in market share to 10% of total hardwood imports. But its growth, along with that of France, Italy and Malaysia was down to volumes falling by below the average of the month.
Hardwood plywood volumes were up by 25.7% (12,000m3) to 72,000m3, with China taking a 57% share of the imports. Russian and Malaysian volumes were marginally higher but slightly lower from Finland and Latvia.
