Statistics: TDUK Timber Imports | 13
MIND THE GAP Latest TDUK statistics show the gap between 2023 and 2022 import volumes is closing SUMMARY
■January-July import volumes were 5% down year-on-year
■July was the second consecutive month where all UK imports were higher than in 2022
■Sweden and Finland have increased their share of softwood supply to the UK
■Brazil now accounts for 67% of the UK’s hardwood plywood imports
Hardwood imports were down 23.9% in the January-July year-on-year comparison, with cumulative volume this year at 284,000m3 (2022: 373,000m ).
Within that, tropical hardwood was down 8.2%, with cumulative volume at 53,000m3 (2022: 57,000m3
was down 17.8%, with cumulative volume at 163,000m3
(2022: 198,000m3
) and temperate hardwood ).
As 2023 draws to a close, the deficit in import volume over 2022 continues to reduce, down to 5% in January-July 2023, compared to 7% in January-June.
Improvements are seen in the volume of imported softwood, down to 3% from 6%; in chipboard imports, down to 8% from 9%, while OSB and MDF imports continue to show strong growth.
These are the findings of Timber Development UK in its latest statistics – TDUK Timber Statistics Industry Facts & Figures, October 2023.
It adds that July was the second
consecutive month where all UK imports were higher than in 2022.
Softwood imports for the January-July year-on-year comparison were down 3.1%, with cumulative volume for the period at 3,618,000m3
(2022: 3,733,000m3 ).
As mentioned, although the cumulative figure is down, year-on-year, the gap is narrowing, with volumes now only 3% behind last year. Volumes in the second half of 2022 were weak, which, says the TDUK, suggests the gap between 2022 and this year will continue to narrow.
The better volumes are being driven by Sweden and Finland, which have increased their share of supply to 49% (from 41%) and 13% (from 12%) respectively, while losses in volume have been recorded by Latvia, Germany and the Republic of Ireland. The value of softwood imports from January-July was 31% lower than the same period in 2022.
The TDUK points out that comparisons between 2022 and 2023 need qualifying because of the unusual trading patterns of the last two years. For example, opportunistic volumes of low cost hardwoods from the Baltics in 2022 inflated the overall total of UK hardwood imports and much of this volume has disappeared this year. Hence comparisons are distorted. Total plywood imports were down 18.8% in the January-July comparison periods, with cumulative volume for the first seven months of this year at 754,000 (2022: 929,000m3
).
Within that total, hardwood plywood imports for the period were down 24.8%, with cumulative volume at 502,000m3 668,000m3
). Around 106,000m3 less hardwood plywood
was imported from China during January- July this year, with much of the remaining loss of 60,000m3
removal of 26,000m3
being accounted for by the of hardwood plywood
(2022: from Russia. Malaysia exported 15,000m3 less
to the UK. Of the leading supplier countries, only Latvia has supplied more to the UK in the year to date.
Softwood plywood imports for the January- July 2023 period were down 3.5% year-on- year, with cumulative volume at 252,000m3 (2022: 261,000m3
).
The biggest shifts in supply have been from Brazil and China, with the former increasing volumes to the UK by 31,000m3 decreasing volumes by 34,000m3
and China . Brazil now
accounts for 67% of supply share, up from 53% year-on-year; while China’s supply share has slumped from 21% to 8% year-on-year. Chipboard imports in the first seven months of 2023 were down 7.7%, with cumulative volume for January-July at 364,000m3 394,000m3
(2022: ).
Germany was the biggest loser, with a drop in volume of 34,000m3 (down by 10,000m3 9,000m3
, followed by Spain ) and Portugal (down by
). However, these losses were partially offset by combined volumes from France and Belgium, which were up by 39,000m3
.
OSB imports were up by 32.1%, with cumulative volume from January-July at 264,000m3
(2022: 200,000m3 (2022: 441,000m3 ).
MDF imports were up 7.3%, with cumulative volume from January-July at 474,000m3
). ■ Softwood Imports by Main Country, Jan-Jul 2023/2022
10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55
0 5
41.0 49.0 Sweden
20.0 15.0 Latvia
12.0 13.0 Finland
10.0 8.0 Germany
8.0 7.0 Irish Republic
2022 2023
The TDUK 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 | November/December 2023 | TTJ
% of Total
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