UK imports of US hardwoods improved by 16% in value to US$19m, and 5% in volume for the first quarter of this year, compared to the same period in 2004, according to data just released by the US Bureau of Census.
And in Ireland imports were up 15% in volume, although the value was up only 10% – possibly due to exchange rate differences.
UK importers and manufacturers increased their purchases of American hardwood sawn lumber in the first quarter of this year, largely due to a significant increase in shipments of white oak – up from 8,678m3 to 9,483m3 to a value of US$8.1m compared with US$6.7m in 2004.
Ash and cherry lumber were up 12% and 13% respectively in value, and walnut was up 38%.
There was also a 78% increase in the import of red oak, albeit from a relatively small base. American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) David Venables said: “Nevertheless, we have been working hard to promote this very available and now less expensive species to architects and specifiers for some time.”
The total value of American hardwood in all forms – logs, lumber veneer, moulding, dimension, plywood and flooring – increased from US$22m to US$25m – up 14% for the first quarter of the year.
In the Republic of Ireland, the total was US$6m, up 10% for the first quarter.
AHEC said the results compared well with the rest of western Europe where only the Netherlands and Germany exceeded the UK result.
