The stats, the latest available for the UK timber trade, show a 7.9% import decline for the main timber and wood panel products. They also show a 175,000m3 fall in volume for the first five months of 2013, compared to a year ago.
Softwood import volumes reduced by about 145,000m3, with Sweden’s share falling to 46% for the period (2012: 50%. Both Finland and Latvia increased their shares.
Whitewood import values slipped further to £165m (2012: £177m), while redwood values grew 1% to £116m.
Hardwood volumes have fallen to 159,000m3 (2012: 191,000m3), with Cameroon and Malaysia seeing their UK volumes reduce by 24% and 25% respectively. French shipments grew by 9% and those from Estonia rose by 2%.
For more on the statistics, see www.ttf.co.uk
