UK softwood import volumes are forecast to increase by 3.5% in 2012, according to a new Timber Trade Federation (TTF) survey.
The survey of the TTF National Softwood Division members resulted in a forecasted 4.98 million m3 of softwood imports in 2012, compared with a forecast of 4.81million m³ in the full year 2011.
However, the majority of traders (71%) expect business to worsen in the final six months of 2011, compared to a year ago. Some 86% expect their 2011 sales to be worse than 2010.
Next year is expected to be similar to the current year, with 14% seeing a pick-up and 86% predicting similar trade levels. Encouragingly, no-one expects volumes to decrease.
Forecasts for the volumes from supplier countries include a 2% drop this year from Sweden to 2.19 million m³, 13% fall from Latvia (647,000m³), -1% from Finland (632,000m³), -26% from Germany (352,000m³) and -16% from Ireland (308,000m³).
UK sawmillers’ softwood production is forecast to grow 3% to 3.14 million m³ this year.
For more information visit www.ttf.co.uk.
