Better volumes of plywood imports during March and April helped reduce the 2012 shortfall in panel product volumes.
Solid wood imports during the period were 12% higher, while panel products were 9% lower.
Sweden’s share of the UK softwood import market stood at 51%. Double digit growth was recorded in the four months by Sweden, Latvia and the Republic of Ireland. Cumulative softwood volumes reached 1.65 million m3, up from 1.47 million m3 a year ago.
Hardwood imports were up 12.2% at 155,000m3. The US retains its leadership with a 25% market share and Italy, Cameroon and Malaysia all saw higher volumes of 2,500m3-3,500m3 – growth rates of 18%, 32% and 62% respectively.
Plywood imports totalled 401,000m3 (2011: 422,000m3), with hardwood ply products down 0.1% and softwood ply panels down 30.8%.