UK import volumes of the main timber and panel products finished 2024 up by 0.5% on the previous year, according to the latest statistics from Timber Development UK (TDUK).
The slight increase, helped by a strong Q4, 2024 for import volumes, equated to a 45,000m3 rise.
TDUK said import volumes had steadily improved since Q3 2022, with the final quarter of 2024 showing volumes 13.1% higher than the same period the year before, although Q4 2023 was a historically weak comparison period.
The small overall volume increase in timber and panel imports in 2024 was led by modest growth in softwood imports, supported by small increases in the volume of plywood, OSB and engineered wood products.
Volume reductions were experienced by hardwood, particleboard and MDF imports. Solid wood imports for the year were 1.2% higher than in 2023, while imports of panel products were 1.0% lower.
TDUK says overall volumes from the top five softwood supplying countries reduced slightly, with only Latvia and the Republic of Ireland growing by 7%. Norway, Lithuania, Austria, France and Canada all enjoyed higher volumes, and the combined growth from all countries outside of the top five in 2024 was an impressive 26%.
The overall value of softwood imports in 2024 was 1.5% higher than in 2023. Whitewood values were 1.7% lower in 2024 and redwood values rose by 6.2%.
All hardwood imports in 2024 were 2.2%, or around 10,000m3, lower than in 2023. Main contributors to this fall were the US and Cameroon, but higher volumes were recorded from France, Latvia, Estonia and Romania.
“It’s encouraging to see the gradual timber import growth in Q4 has contributed to achieve higher import levels for 2024 as a whole,” said TDUK head of technical and trade Nick Boulton.
“However, this is at the end of a two-year period where we have seen almost no growth in the volume or value of the main wood product groups.
“With rising log and logistics costs over the same period the impact on critical areas within the supply chain is becoming increasingly apparent. The construction market as a whole continues to be challenging leaving a suspicion that the small rise in imports reflected increased stocks rather than consumption as we closed 2024.”
TDUK members can access the full statistics on the TDUK website.
