Figures from the latest TTF Statistics – Industry Facts & Figures, September 2019, highlight the changing import climate between the first two quarters of the year.

Imports of timber and panels in the first six months of 2019 were nearly 6% higher (or 300,000m3) than the equivalent period in 2018, but all of this growth came in the first quarter. Growth in Q1 2019 was 16% above that of Q1 2018, which was weather affected, while Q2 2019 was 3.6% below Q2 in 2018. Softwood imports in the January to June comparative periods were up 9.4% this year against last, with cumulative volumes to June at 3,511,000m3 (2018: 3,208,000m3).

With the exception of Sweden, all the leading supplier countries to the UK have experienced double-digit growth this year. Swedish exports to the UK are still growing but only at 2%, year-to-date, so its market share has declined from 44% in the January- June 2018 period to 41% in the equivalent period this year.

The biggest growth is from Germany, which is up by 24%, then the Republic of Ireland at 17% and Latvia by 15%. Latvia is now the second largest supplier of softwood to the UK, accounting for 18% of imports.

The value of all softwood imports in H1 was nearly 6% higher than the same period of 2018, while the value of sawn goods and planed goods were up 4% and 9% respectively on H1 2018.

Hardwood imports were up 13.2% in the first half of this year, compared to H1 2018. Cumulative import volumes to June were 274,000m3 (2018: 242,000m3).

The US is still the leading supplier of hardwoods to the UK – but only just. Volumes have fallen by 9%, resulting in a slip in market share from 21% in H1 2018 to 16% in H1 2019. Estonia is now just behind with 14% market share (up from 13% in H1 2018), with France at 10% and Latvia at 8%.

Import volumes of hardwood from Africa, led by Cameroon, have risen 10% to date, and the African continent is maintaining its 10% market share.

Plywood imports are down 4.1% in H1 2019 against the same period last year. Cumulative volumes to June were 816,000m3 (2018: 850,000m3).

Within those overall volumes, hardwood plywood imports were down 3.6% in H1 this year, against H1 2018, with the greatest growth being seen by Finland – 22% – which now has 7% of market share of the UK’s hardwood plywood imports.

China’s volumes are down by 3% but they still account for 55% of market share. Indonesian volumes were down 23% and Malaysian by more than 33%.

Softwood plywood imports were also down on the half – by 4.8%. Cumulative volumes to June this year were 325,000m3 (2018: 342,000m3). Despite volumes from Brazil actually falling by 2%, the country’s market share has increased from 58% in H1 2018 to 60% in H1 2019. Volumes from Chile fell 8% while those from Finland and China were up by 13% and 12% respectively.

Chipboard imports were up by 1%, with cumulative volumes to June at 444,000m3 (2018: 439,000m3). While the overall volume hasn’t changed much, the market dynamics have, with Germany, France and Portugal seeing substantial increases in volume to the UK while Belgian and Irish chipboard imports have declined.

OSB imports in the first half of 2019 saw a 13.9% increase, with cumulative volumes to June at 201,000m3 (2018: 176,000m3). Meanwhile MDF imports went the other way, falling by 9.1%. Cumulative imports to June were 348,000m3 (2018: 383,000m3).