UK timber imports witness a 6% decline in early 2024

Posted on April 15, 2024   |  

In January 2024, timber import volumes experienced a 6% decline compared to the previous year, attributed to drops in softwood, hardwood, and plywood imports.

Softwood imports from Sweden notably decreased by 9%, contributing to the overall 9.6% volume reduction, alongside a 15% decrease in import values.

Hardwood imports saw a significant 13.8% decrease, primarily due to reduced tropical hardwood imports, while temperate hardwood volumes increased by 2%.

Overall plywood imports declined by 6%, although hardwood plywood volumes surged by 36%, especially from China.

Particleboard imports witnessed a 3.4% growth, fueled by substantial increases from Belgium, Portugal, and Spain.

OSB and MDF imports showed respective increases of 6% and 4.1%, while engineered wood product import volumes grew by 12.8% in January 2024.