UK Softwood Lumber Demand Slows in June
TTJ Softwood Update: June sees cracks in structural softwood demand
UK softwood lumber trading was strong through April and May, supported by growing demand, Timber Trades Journal (TTJ) reported (7-10-25). This followed a stable Q1, when imports rose by nearly 2% year-over-year.
With demand outpacing supply in some areas, prices rose across the UK. However, merchants remained cautious, limiting forward purchases as they waited to see whether the recovery would hold. By June, demand began to weaken, particularly for structural softwood, according to TTJ. Prices flattened, then declined, as merchants pulled back and some distributors responded by cutting prices.
TTJ noted that planned building projects expected to launch in Q2 were delayed or postponed by developers, catching merchants off guard and slowing stock turnover. Contributing factors included delays in planning approvals, infrastructure bottlenecks, and ongoing labor shortages.
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