The German timber industry con-tinues to see Britain as a market with great potential – not least because of the UK’s leadership in sustainable building.
Despite a significant decline in timber imports from Germany with respect to the previous year – 413,545m³ in 2008 compared to 678,492m³ in 2007 – it is expected that the market will rebound by the end of 2009.
Resurgence in UK demand will be based on the desire for innovative timber solutions and top quality timber products. Environmental concerns are another driver. For this reason, high-quality, technical German sawmill industry products, including dried and planed timber, solid structural timber and glulam will continue to play a significant role in timber building in Britain.
Construction market
The German industry is a good partner for the British building market. At 3.4 billion m³, Germany has one of the largest timber inventories in Europe, and its forests have been managed sustainably for centuries. The majority of forested area is FSC– or PEFC-certified.
The German sawmill industry produces more timber than any other European country, with 160,000 companies, approximately one million employees and annual sales of €114bn.
The German timber industry will maintain its commitment to the UK and continue existing dialogue with technical experts. For example, the German Timber Promotion Fund supports the UK’s Wood Awards, and in 2009, it will also be represented in Interbuild’s Timber Zone at the NEC from October 18-21.
