16 | Markets: Plywood and OSB


SUMMARY


■ UK plywood imports grew by 10% in 2025


■ The Iran conflict is leading to higher energy and chemicals costs for panel producers


Plywood production in Asia


■ Panel prices are having to rise ■ UK demand is low and competition fierce


MARKET CONFUSION DUE TO IRAN CONFLICT


The wood products industry has been hit by the consequences of the war in Iran and it’s a


brave person who predicts the near future with any hint of certainty. The plywood and OSB industries are not immune, as Mike Botting reports


Recent Timber Development UK statistics reveal that plywood imports recorded one of the strongest performances of any product group in 2025. Total plywood imports increased by 10.1%, reaching 1.32 million m3, compared with 1.199 million m3 in 2024. Hardwood plywood imports rose by 7.1%,


TTJ | Summer 2026 | www.ttjonline.com


driven largely by higher shipments from China and Malaysia. Softwood plywood imports increased even more strongly, rising by 18.1% during the year to 389,000m3 due to higher volumes from Brazil and China. The report said that OSB imports increased slightly, by 0.3%, reaching 453,000m3,


compared with 452,000m3 in 2024. At the same time, the value of OSB imports increased by 6.2%. However, recently downwardly revised forecasts from the Construction Products Association and the geo-political uncertainty from the Iran conflict are signals that 2026


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