The figures for the first eight months of 2014 reveal solid wood imports were 21% higher than the same period in 2013 and panel product imports rose 14%. The total volume for all products was nearly 981,000m3 – an increase of 19%.
In terms of prices, the eight-month average was 5% above that of 2013. During the period from January to August, softwood volumes rose 21.4% on the year and the value was 29% higher. All the main exporters to the UK increased volume in August, except Ireland. However, from January-August Irish volumes have grown by 8%. Germany and Latvia have had the biggest gains with 43% and 33% respectively.
Hardwood volumes rose by 18.2%. Some of the major supplying countries to the UK lost market share slightly, while some smaller suppliers gained.
Over the eight months, plywood import volumes grew 6.7% on the year. The 6.7% growth in hardwood plywood imports can largely be attributed to China. In August, it accounted for 60% of the import volume. Softwood plywood imports rose by10.8%, with Brazil, China and Chile registering the biggest increases.
Over the eight-month period chipboard imports increased by 26.8%, OSB by 16.8% and MDF by 15.8%. The rate of growth is expected to moderate during the second half of 2014 as imports are compared against the rapid rise in volume in the final four months of 2013.
