UK timber and panel product imports were around 11% higher in the first eight months of 2010, compared to a year ago, according to The Timber Trade Federation’s latest Timber Statistics.
But the report questions whether the improvement can be sustained in the final months of 2010 in view of forecasters predicting a slowdown in construction activity. It also says a clear slowing of the rate of import growth has been recorded so far in 2010.
The total import figure for the main timber and panel products was 5.63 million m³ for the period (2009: 5.07 million m³).
Softwood imports saw further improvements in volumes arriving from Latvia, Germany, Ireland and Russia, with Latvian shipments enjoying a 20% market share in August (2009: 17%), Germany 11% (2009: 9%), Ireland 8% (2009: 5%) and Russia 8% (2009: 7%).
By contrast Sweden’s share reduced by 6% to 36% and Finland fell by 2% to 10%.
Total softwood volumes were up 9.3% to 3.58 million m³ in the first eight months.
A 32% growth in hardwood imports to 322,000m³ was recorded for the period, with Italy and Estonia roughly doubling their volumes. Italy was number two exporter with an 8% share, behind the US (23%). Cameroon was third (8%), while France and Germany both had a 7% market share.
Imports for all kinds of plywood were up 16.3% to 862,000m³, with China increasing its market share to 38% (2009: 29%) and Malaysia falling to 19% (2009: 25%).
