Statistics Update: TTF UK Imports | 13
DEMAND REACHES NEW HIGH IN Q1
Timber imports into the UK continue to hit new heights SUMMARY
■ Imports in Q1 this year were 23% up on Q1, 2020
■ Softwood imports were up 31% ■ Latvia, Finland and Germany shipped substantially more volume to the UK
■ Total plywood imports were 10% up in Q1 this year
Republic of Ireland and Latvia, confirming “the current appetite for cheaper grades of sawn hardwood” and that the share from oak supplying countries, such as the US, France and Italy, has reduced as a consequence. The value of hardwood imports in Q1 this year fell by 13% to £63.5m. Total plywood imports were 10% up in Q1 this year, compared to Q1 2020, with cumulative volume at 426,000m3 387,000m3
(2020: ).
Demand for timber and panel products in the first quarter of 2021 was at its highest since the previous high for a Q1 back in 2007. The latest Timber Trade Federation (TTF) figures – TTF Timber Statistics, Industry Facts & Figures June 2021 – show that the UK sucked in just under 3 million m3
of timber
and panel products in Q1, some 23% more than in Q1 2020.
The TTF also notes that the latest three quarters growth has been the highest period of growth this century – even greater than the growth following the severe recession of 2008/2009.
31% on Q1, 2020, with cumulative volume at 1,894,000m3
Softwood imports in Q1 this year were up (2020: 1,446,000m3
).
(6%) more to the UK in Q1 2021 compared to Q1 2020, but this increase was dwarfed by the volumes from Latvia (119,000m3
Market leader Sweden exported over 40,000m3
more), Finland (99,000m3 and Germany (83,000m3 more) more). As a result,
Sweden lost some of its share of market supply – down to 37% in Q1 this year, as against 46% in Q1, 2020.
The value of sawn goods in Q1 was up on Q1 2020 by 74%, while the value of planed goods was up 73%.
In contrast, hardwood imports were down 7.2% in the quarterly comparison periods, with cumulative volume at 117,000m3 126,000m3
). The TTF notes a “surge in volume” from the (2020: Softwood Imports by Main Country, Jan - Mar 2021
10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
0 5
46.0 37.0 Sweden
19.0 21.0 Latvia
10.0 13.0 Finland
8.0 10.0 Germany
6.0 4.0 Irish Republic
Hardwood plywood imports were up 12.6% in the comparison periods, with cumulative volume at 274,000m3 The 31,000m3
(2020: 243,000m3 increase in volume is
largely down to further growth in deliveries from China, which still leads the supplying countries table, accounting for 65% of share. Finland also increased shipments to the UK (up 24%) and now accounts for 8% of supply share (2020: 3%).
Russia and Malaysia shipped less to the UK, with volumes down 37% and 25% respectively.
Softwood plywood imports were up 5.8% in the comparison periods, with cumulative volume for Q1 at 152,000m3 (2020: 144,000m3
). The increase is largely down to China and ).
Finland, who both shipped around 8,000m3 more to the UK in the period. Volumes from the main suppliers in South America fell in Q1 this year.
Chipboard imports were down by 7.1% in Q1 this year, compared to Q1 2020, with cumulative volume at 159,000m3 171,000m3
(2020: ).
The TTF notes that the pattern of supply has changed radically, with Germany retaining its leadership, with a share of around a third of import volume, but imports from France falling by nearly 22,000m3
, or
about a half. Supply from Portugal rose by around 14,000m3
, more than doubling its
share of supply from 8% in Q1 2020 to 17% in Q1 this year.
The changes in supply were heavily influenced by the monthly volumes imported in March, says the TTF.
OSB imports were up by a massive 74.1% in the first quarter, compared to Q1 2020, with cumulative volume at 141,000m3 81,000m3
). On the other hand, exports from the UK were down 29.2%.
Meanwhile, MDF imports were up 9.3% in the comparison periods, with cumulative volume at 202,000m3
(2020: 184,000m3 Exports were also up, by 11.8%. ■ ). (2020:
2020 2021
5.0 4.0 Russia
The TTF is the UK’s foremost membership body for the timber supply chain. Its members constitute timber importers, merchants, agents and manufacturers and account for around two-thirds of the £10bn UK timber industry.
www.ttjonline.com | July/August 2021 | TTJ
% of Total
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89
