Comment | 3
COMMENT
With another year getting under way, many in the timber industry will be hoping for two things. The first is a year of stability
(both on markets and in a wider geo-political sense) – something we had hoped for at the start of last year, before the Ukraine war started in February, 2022. The second is that some of the more pessimistic economic
predictions regarding the UK economy do not transpire. Talking with many traders recently, I don’t get the sense among them that 2023 is all bleak. Challenging yes, but trade continues, albeit with selling prices in many sectors not reflecting their supply costs. In our softwood report in this issue, we find that while
the economic backdrop is troubling traders, they are finding their way through and some agents and shippers are reporting more interest for February and March shipments. In the hardwood trade, margins have come under
pressure and Q4 2022 was difficult. In our annual Predictions article (pp18-23), Ken Walsh
of Danzer UK expects Q1 to be challenging but with the high stock level situation resolving and things settling down and normalising Q2 onwards. Stephen King of SCA also believes the outlook for Q2 and Q3 is more positive, noting that both interest rates and inflation could be close to peaking, with supply and demand also looking to be heading back toward a more balanced scenario. The Builders Merchants Federation says the first
quarter of 2023 is looking reasonably stable and at present it does not foresee a major downturn – such as
TTJ – the voice of the timber Industry
that seen in 2008/09 – in the coming 12 months. TDUK CEO David Hopkins highlights the Building
Safety Act as having major implications for designers, contractors and suppliers, with extra responsibilities across the supply chain. The Act will see the implementation of “the Golden
Thread”; a connected series of responsibilities across the supply chain. A new Regulator for Construction Products will be created and suppliers will have to prove they have the competence to put construction products on the market and that they are correctly labelled and marked. Perhaps the British Coatings Federation’s viewpoint (in
our Coatings & Finishes Sector Focus on pp29-35) best summarises our hope for 2023 – “we hope 2023 will be boring!” Elsewhere in this issue we have our annual updates
on Cladding & Shingles (pp41-50), with some great innovation going on in this key timber product area; and a detailed look at the new iconic Black and White Building in London (pp51-54), which is a veritable feast of timber products. Last but not least, this year is the 150th anniversary of
TTJ and we are planning to celebrate the milestone in several ways – including a special anniversary addition in May and a big celebration at the TTJ Awards in September.
GROUP EDITOR
www.ttjonline.com
► MARKET UPDATE – HARDWOOD TTJ speaks to importers and merchants about hardwood trading and where business might be headed in 2023
► MARKET UPDATE – CHIPBOARD We cover market developments in the chipboard sector
► SECTOR FOCUS – DECKING AND GARDEN PRODUCTS We catch up with manufacturers of decking and garden products and ask how the 2023 season is shaping up for them after the boom times of 2020/2021 and the slower 2022
► SECTOR FOCUS – MOULDERS & MOULDINGS We look at prospects in the mouldings market and continuing investment in moulder technology
► CUSTOMER REPORT – KITCHENS A look at the kitchen manufacturing sector and how timber fits into the business
► PLUS REGULARS
Latest UK and world news; technical news; comment from industry figures; and latest appointments.
www.ttjonline.com | January/February 2023 | TTJ
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