ITTO says the level of imports last year (with Q4’s figures still to come) was almost certain to be lower than in 2009 – the previous low point due to the financial crisis.
Imports from Malaysia suffered the most (-31%), while Brazilian shipments were down 15%, as the EU continued to focus tropical wood purchases on African countries.
EU imports of tropical hardwood mouldings also fell sharply, though laminated tropical hardwood imports held steady.
