The latest statistics released by the Timber Trade Federation (TTF) reveal that the year 2019 ended with the volume of the leading timber and panel products 4% lower than in 2018 – a drop of 426,000m3.

TTF Timber Statistics Industry Facts & Figures, March shows that volumes in every month since April last year were lower than the corresponding month in 2018.

Softwood imports in the January-December year-on-year comparisons were down by 3.1%, with cumulative volume to December at 6,391,000m3 (2018: 6,594,000m3).

Softwood volumes from the Republic of Ireland and Germany were higher in 2019 than in 2018 by 2.5% and 1.3% respectively, bumping their share of supply up – Ireland’s from 5.9% in 2018 to 6.3% in 2019, and Germany’s from 6.9% to 7.2%.

Sweden and Finland both exported less volume to the UK in 2019 – Sweden lower by 2.2% and Finland lower by 4.6%. However, lower volumes by other supplying countries meant that in Sweden’s case, its share of the overall market rose slightly, from 41.3% in 2018 to 41.7% in 2019. Similarly, Latvia’s volume to the UK was 0.5% down in 2019, compared to 2018 but its share rose from 17.3% to 17.8%. The biggest loser was Russia, whose volume was down by 13.3%.

The overall value of softwood imports in 2019 was 9.5% lower than in 2018. Breaking that down, the value of sawn goods was down 11.8% and planed goods down 6.2%.

Hardwood imports were up by 4.6% in the January-December year-on-year comparison periods. Cumulative volume to December was 519,000m3 (2018: 496,000m3).

The growth has largely been down to significant volume increases from Latvia (up 40%), France (up 25%) and the Cameroon (up 11%). These offset 2019 volume losses from the US (down 9%), Estonia (down 7.5%) and Italy (down 1.5%).

As a consequence, the US’s share of the UK hardwood supply is down from 19% to 17% and Estonia’s is down from 15% to 13%. Latvia’s share has gone up from 8% to 11% and France’s from 9% to 10%.

Plywood imports were down by 9% last year, against 2018. Cumulative volume to December was 1,454,000m3 (2018: 1,598,000).

Within that, hardwood plywood imports were down 11% in the comparison periods, with cumulative volume to December at 945,000m3 (2018: 1,061,000m3). The three countries accounting for the biggest proportion of the drop in volume – 100,000m3 out of the 116,000m3 were China, Indonesia and Malaysia. Finland saw its volumes rise by more than 13,000m3, a growth of 25%.

Softwood plywood imports were also down, but by less – 5.2%. Cumulative volume to December was 509,000m3 (2018: 537,000m3).

While volumes overall were down, Brazil increased its shipments to the UK by 7%, raising its market share to 57% (2018: 51%).

And France doubled its volumes of softwood plywood to the UK, lifting its market share from 3% in 2018 to 5% in 2019.

China and Chile saw the biggest drops in volume and now sit on 9% and 7% share respectively – down from 12% and 8%.

Chipboard imports also slumped and were 13% down on the January-December year-on-year comparison. Cumulative volume to December was 848,000m3 (2018: 978,000m3).

Despite this drop, three of the four leading supplier countries – Germany, France and Portugal – actually increased their volumes to the UK, resulting in their market shares increasing respectively from 26% to 31%, from 23% to 26% and from 9% to 12%. Belgium and Ireland saw large losses in volume to the UK.

OSB import volume increased by 14.1%. Cumulative volume to December was 399,000m3 (2018: 350,000m3).

Meanwhile, MDF import volume was down by 2.9%, with cumulative volume to December at 720,000m3 (2018: 741,000m3).