The latest figures from the Timber Trade Federation (TTF), Timber Statistics – Industry Facts & Figures, November 2019, show that while import volumes from January to August were higher over the same 2018 period by about 90,000m3 (a percentage volume growth of around 1.3%), import volume for August this year was 16% below that of August 2018. This, says the TTF, is the lowest monthly percentage change on the corresponding month of the year before for eight years.

Softwood imports in the January to August comparison period were up by 3.3% on the same period last year, with cumulative volumes to August at 4,510,000m3 (2018: 4,366,000m3).

Volumes from Sweden are very similar to the equivalent period of 2018, meaning that most of the growth has been generated by other leading supplier countries. Germany, for example, has increased its softwood exports to the UK by 10.5% this year to date.

Sweden still accounts for a 41% market share (down from 42% in 2018 January- August year-to-date), while Latvia is holding at 18%, Finland at 14%, Germany at 7%, the Irish Republic at 6% and Russia at 5%.

While the value of all softwood imports was higher in the first half of this year compared to 2018, it has steadily been falling and by the end of August was 1.1% lower than the same 2018 period.

The value of sawn softwood has fallen by nearly 2% on the same eight-month period of 2018, although the value of planed goods has stayed at the same level.

As for hardwoods, imports were up 12.7% in the January to August year-on-year comparison, with cumulative volume to August at 367,000m3 (2018: 326,000m3).

The US has exported virtually identical volumes to the UK this year to date as it did in the same 2018 period, although its market share has slipped from 20% to 18%. The overall growth in imports has been generated by other leading countries, with increases of between 15-18% from France, Italy and Cameroon. The biggest gain was from Latvia, with a 41% rise in volume to the UK. Latvia’s market share of UK hardwood imports in the January to August period is 10%, up from 8% in the equivalent 2018 period.

Total plywood imports were down by 4.5% in the January to August comparison periods, with cumulative volume to August at 1,047,000m3 (2018: 1,096,000m3).

Hardwood plywood imports were down by 4.3%, with cumulative volumes to August at 660,00m3 (2018: 689,000m3).

The overall volume is lower due to dips from Malaysia and Indonesia. Meanwhile Russia and Finland continued to grow their volumes into the UK from January to August this year, by 10% and 31% respectively.

China is still way ahead on market share, with 56% (down from 55% in the January to August comparison period), while Russia is on 9% (2018: 8%), Finland is on 7% (2018: 5%), Malaysia is at 6% (2018: 8%) and Indonesia is 5% (2018: 6%).

Softwood plywood imports were down by 4.7% despite the two leading supplier countries, Brazil and Finland, upping their volumes by 1% and nearly 4% respectively.

The TTF highlights the volatility in this market, with August volumes a third lower than in August 2018, while July volumes were 40% higher than in July 2018.

The UK’s imports of chipboard were down by 7.3%, with cumulative volumes to August of 594,000m3 (2018: 641,000m3).

Germany and France dominate the supply, raising their respective shares to 31% and 28% (2018: 26% and 24% respectively). Portugal also increased its shipments to the UK, while Belgium and the Irish Republic saw their volumes decrease.

OSB imports were up 11% in the January to August year-on-year comparison, with cumulative volumes to August at 277,000m3 (2018: 249,000m3). Conversely, MDF imports were down by 5.2%, with cumulative volumes to August at 475,000m3 (2018: 501,000m3).