The strongest performing sector looks likely to be builders’ carpentry and joinery, which is expected to grow by 4%, boosted by timber framed windows and the expansion of the market for timber framed housing.
Currently, timber frame accounts for 56% of new housing starts in Scotland, but it is also rapidly gaining market share in England and Wales.
MBD also believes timber-based construction will benefit from the build up to the London 2012 Olympics, which it says “should provide a sizeable opportunity for builder’s carpentry and joinery to gain market share at the expense of less modern methods of construction”.
Other areas of growth are likely to include decking materials, and wood-based flooring, while demand for wooden furniture is projected to remain steady until 2011.
