UK Imports of Softwood and Plywood Decline in January

Timber import volumes in the UK started 2024 down 6%, or about 45,000 m³, year-over-year, Timber Development UK reported (4-8-24).

Softwood, hardwood, and plywood imports were all lower than January 2023, but particleboard, engineered wood, OSB, and MDF products all saw imports increase slightly.

For softwood, a 9% reduction in volumes from Sweden was the largest contributor to the 9.6% drop. The value was also 15% lower year-over-year; this fall was caused by the decline in volume, coupled with a 5.6% fall in the average price of a basket of softwood products (down from £256 m³ to £241 m³).

Overall plywood imports were down 6%, though hardwood plywood volumes rose 36%, mostly due to a near 18,000 m³ increase from China.

Substantial increases in particleboard imports from Belgium, Portugal, and Spain helped account for the sector’s 3.4% growth, while OSB and MDF imports were up 6% and 4.1%, respectively. Finally, a 12.8% gain in engineered wood product import volumes rounded out the varied results for January.

In remarks accompanying the report, TDUK Head of Technical and Trade, Nick Boulton, said:

“A truer reflection of the sector’s product performance will be visible towards the end of Q1, but the 6% reduction we’ve seen in January’s figures does confirm the greater stability in the market when compared to the high increases and decreases experienced from 2020 to the end of 2022.

…despite the volatility of recent years and the subdued start to 2024, the longer-term trend of UK timber and panel product imports remains upward, and the government’s renewed focus on timber as a core construction material suggests that the future continues to look brighter.”