Klausner, Holz-Schiller and Klenk were among the big names, all of whom export products to the UK.

Klausner’s Anne Leibold said it was now the third biggest timber producer in Europe and had been exporting to the UK since 1993. She said trade with Britain offered growth potential.

A Holz-Schiller spokesperson said German timber was becoming popular in Britain because of softwood shortages in traditional supplier countries and because of the quality.