Volumes of the main timber and panel products imports in the first quarter of 2024 slipped back against Q1, 2023, down by 6.2%.
This is according to the latest report from Timber Development UK in its Timber Statistics, Industry Facts & Figures, June 2024, which adds “a period of price stability has returned to timber imports, with average prices subject to significantly less fluctuation than experienced in 2022 and 2023”.
Import volumes in Q1 this year were around 150,000m3 down on Q1, 2023. Volumes in January and February were at similar levels as in 2023 but fell back in March, resulting in the aforementioned 6.2% reduction in Q1, 2024 compared to Q1, 2023.
Softwood imports from January-March this year were down 7.5% year-on-year, with volumes at 1,311,000m3 (2023: 1,439,000m3).
A weaker March saw volumes fall back in Q1 with a 13% reduction in volume from Sweden and a 14% drop in volume from Finland, when compared to Q1, 2023. Germany shipped 8% less to the UK.
These losses did not compensate for the 1% gain from Latvia and the 22% gain from the Republic of Ireland.
Total hardwood imports were down 12.4% in the Q1 comparison periods, with cumulative volume from January-March 2024 at 103,000m3 (2023: 117,000m3). The TDUK points out that hardwood import volumes was lower in each of the three months of Q1, 2024 compared to Q1, 2023.
Within this, tropical hardwood imports were down 18.1%, with cumulative volume from January-March 2024 at 19,000m3 (2023: 23,000m3). And temperate hardwood imports were down 6.2%, with cumulative volume for Q1 this year at 61,000m3 (2023: 65,000m3).
Total plywood imports were up slightly – by 0.6% in the comparison period, with cumulative volume from January-March 2024 at 335,000m3 (2023: 333,000m3).
Within the total, hardwood plywood imports were up 14.2%, with cumulative volume in the Q1 comparison period at 233,000m3 (2023: 204,000m3).
The TDUK notes that “the substantial volumes of hardwood plywood imported in each of the first two months of 2024 could not be sustained in March, nevertheless volumes in Q1 2024 were 14% higher than in Q1, 2023”.
The volume was around 30,000m3 higher, almost all of which was accounted for by imports from China.
Softwood plywood imports were down by 20.9% in the comparison periods, with cumulative volume from January-March 2024 at 102,000m3 (2023: 129,000m3).
All of the leading countries of supply have supplied less volume to the UK in 2024 to date and despite a 13% reduction from Brazil, its share of supply to the UK rose from 67% in Q1, 2023, to 72% in Q1 this year, thanks to larger percentage losses from other countries. Volume from China was down 27%, for example, while Finland was down 36% and Chile was down 62%.
Chipboard imports were down by 0.2%, with cumulative volume from January-March this year at 151,000m3 (2023: 152,000m3).
France consolidated its position as a leading supplier of chipboard to the UK, increasing its volume by 5% over Q1, 2023, thereby raising its share of supply to 30%.
Belgium saw a 6% increase in volume to the UK and increased its share of supply from 19% in Q1, 2023, to 20% in Q1 this year.
Chipboard imports from Germany, however, were down 21% in Q1 this year, with its share of supply falling from 24% in Q1, 2023 to 19% in Q1 this year.
OSB imports were down 14.2%, with cumulative volume from January-March this year at 102,000m3 (2023: 119,000m3).
MDF imports were down 3.7%, with cumulative volume from January-March this year at 189,000m3 (2023: 196,000m3).
