18 | Sector Market Update: Hardwood
◄ this year, which they also partly attributed to “contraction of the competition”. On specific species, white oak remains the UK’s US hardwood of choice, although demand is reported as flat. Price is “reasonably stable”, but issues are reported on price disparity according to mix of lengths. “If you buy a mix of 8, 10 and 12ft you pay a particular price, but if you buy only 8ft, it can be 10% cheaper,” said an importer. “So, if you buy the mix of lengths, the 8ft sits there as its up against material bought at the lower price.”
A number of traders said US red oak is making market inroads, which was attributed to its price competitiveness versus white, but also the American Hardwood Export Council’s high-profile marketing.
An importer/distributor said sales were still “nowhere near those of white oak”, but that there was “more of a market to go for”. Another importer said it “was now more a daily topic of conversation in the office”. “But there are issues with supply,” they
said. “Part of the issue is the US market is sweeping up red oak, and there’s the underlying matter of overall US hardwood production contraction. It peaked at over 13 billion bd ft a year, and for some time was averaging 7-8 billion bd ft. Last year it was around 5 billion bd ft. So, you’re scrabbling around to find precisely what your customers are specifying.”
Reports varied on walnut. One importer said sales had plateaued, while an international trader reported steady demand and firm prices. Ash prices were firm too, they said, with stable demand, but ever-declining sourcing areas.
One company reported volumes of tulipwood as a paint-grade up, but another said they faced sourcing issues given the closure of a number of green mills. “Production is struggling to get ahead of demand,” they said.
European oak sales are not as brisk as they were, but producers are edging the price up to cover rising costs, and prime is reported to be harder to find.
Beech is described as the model of consistency. “The whole world is based around door lengths, and it’s produced in door lengths,” said an importer. “Price, volume demand and supply are all consistent. We wish there a few more like it.” As for African, sapele demand is holding up, but while some report pricing to have stabilised after trending down in 2023/24, others say it remains a competitive business. “It’s sold at a price point, and, while they seem now to be on the decline, we have seen volumes of low cost uncertified sapele coming in, possibly because timber is being diverted from the EU to the UK due to the prospect of the EU Deforestation Regulation,” said an importer/distributor.
“People ask why we stay with it given that, although we sell volumes, we make nothing on it. But we feel we need it in the mix for our customers.” Iroko remains a challenge to find in volume, and framire more so. In fact, said a trader, the latter looks in “terminal decline”. “There’s still a little from Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Ghana, but it’s a handful of containers here or there,” they said. In Cameroon, it’s reported that between a third and half of Chinese and Vietnamese mills have closed due to heavy rain, and uncertainty over presidential elections, but at least some were expected to reopen at the end of October. Kiln-dried availability from the country is reported down but shipping dry supply to have recovered.
A couple of companies reported doing more in thermo-treated African hardwood, including ayous for cladding. When it comes to Asian, meranti is described as “not the player it once was”. “Loggers are not opening new concessions due to low demand, and some mills have closed, so supply is more limited, but prices are stable due to the supply demand balance,” said one trader. “Keruing output is also more limited, but prices have firmed as supply is now lagging demand.”
Several companies reported engineered hardwood demand increasing, both in tropical and temperate. “Sales to the door sector are especially strong,” said an importer/ distributor.
One importer said they were “unsurprised” by latest developments in EU Deforestation Regulation implementation. In September the EC first proposed it should be delayed another year then came the latest proposal to introduce it as planned on December 30 for most businesses, but with simplifications,
removal of due diligence obligations for businesses further down the supply chain and a phased introduction. Micro and small businesses have until December 2026 to comply.
An international trader described the latest EC solution as “a sensible compromise”. “From a UK perspective it helps as lots of traders and operators (us included) have struggled with validation on the EUDR ‘Traces’ IT software platform, so fewer downstream uploads should reduce pressure on the system,” they said.
“There will be criticism of a soft launch but, in the timber industry, most serious operators are already prepared thanks to building on years of EUTR/UKTR. The real stretch is for other commodities covered, like soya.” The trade applauds the launch of the new American Hardwood Assurance scheme. This provides evidence of the legality and sustainability of US hardwoods, and as part of the latter its ‘deforestation-free’ status. And it is billed as “exceeding the requirements of the EUDR”. “We all know the US hardwood sector is demonstrably sustainable, but this is the level of validation that will increasingly be required,” said an importer. As for the market outlook, the UK hardwood sector is not expecting significant change in the near future. It will be a case said one importer/distributor of driving efficiency and capitalising on every opportunity. “We’re still taking steps to strengthen the business long-term, including taking on some good young people,” they said. “In the meantime, we’re taking a more forensic approach and not putting money into items that will just stagnate and eat up cash flow. It’s no time to speculate.” ■
Above: Red oak is making further market inroads PHOTO PETR KREJCI PHOTOGRAPHY TTJ | November/December 2025 |
www.ttjonline.com
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