Timber import growth slows in April

UK timber and panel product imports in April registered their weakest month of growth since the start of 2010, according to The Timber Trade Federation’s Timber Statistics.

The statistics, compiled by Timbertrends, show that imports grew by 2% during April, compared to 21% in March, 9% in February and 35% in January.

Average growth for all imports during the first four months was 10% higher than last year, with volumes reaching 2.5 million m³, compared to 2.3 million m³. Softwood plywood was the only product area not to exhibit growth.

The big news in softwood is Sweden losing an 18% market share during April, which was compensated by large increases from Latvia (up 4%), Germany (up 5%) and Russia (up 5%).

UK softwood import volumes were up 9.5% in the first four months of 2010 to 1.6 million m³.

For more on this story see www.TTF.co.uk or see the next issue of TTJ.

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