TIMBER
it to compensate for declining European Whitewood (Spruce) availability. From a structural standpoint there is no difference in performance between European Redwood and European Whitewood. Both species are strength graded to meet UK construction standards, with the most common being C16, C24, and TR26 for trussed rafters. Redwood and Whitewood are graded to the same strength classes, so there is no impact on performance. However, there are some notable differences that merchants and their customers should be aware of.
WHAT CHANGING LOG SUPPLIES MEANS FOR MERCHANTS
Timber Development UK’s CEO, David Hopkins, explains why pressure on sources of European Spruce are causing other species to enter the UK construction supply chain – and what this means for timber and builders’ merchants.
T
he UK construction industry heavily relies on coniferous timber, with about 65% of our requirements being met through imports. The dominant timber species used in the UK are European Whitewood (Spruce) and European Redwood (Pine), with the former traditionally preferred due to its visual appeal and smooth finish. However, significant shifts in the availability of European Whitewood are forcing changes in the market, which will have direct implications for timber and builders’ merchants. Several factors are contributing to these changes in timber availability right across Northern and Central Europe: ¡ Bark Beetle infestations: The European Whitewood (Spruce) population has been severely affected by bark beetle infestations, leading to substantial losses in the available logs. ¡ Market demand and pricing issues: Lower demand for logs in recent years due to the market downturn has reduced the financial incentives for forest owners to bring their timber to market. ¡ Geopolitical factors: Sanctions on Russian timber imports have reduced supply sources for
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the UK and EU. ¡Forest management priorities: We have seen a shift in government policies across Europe, favouring forest conservation over commercial sawlog production.
As a result, European sawmills are facing significant disruptions, including temporary line
closures. Sawmills process logs in batches determined by size, length and quality, which means the closure of a saw line is likely to have more of an impact on individual timber specifications rather than the overall volume of wood available.
What this means for merchants While the total volume of construction timber reaching the UK market is expected to remain stable, merchants will likely face challenges in terms of the range of lengths and sizes available. The primary consequence will be an increased proportion of European Redwood (Pine) in the supply chain, as sawmills substitute
European Redwood (Pine) is visually characterised by very distinct knots and can potentially be more prone to display blue stain than European Whitewood (Spruce). While blue stain may not be visually appealing, it has no impact on strength performance and is therefore permitted within strength grading standards.
All TR26 and most C16 and C24 structural timber will be machine rather than visually strength graded. This means that merchants can be confident that each piece of structural timber will meet the strength class performance stamped on the piece.
For garden, landscaping and exterior applications, such as decking and garden structures, European Redwood (Pine) has a distinct advantage of being able to more readily absorb preservative treatments. This means it can more easily achieve Use Class 3 and Use Class 4 than imported European Whitewood (Spruce), which requires incision for ground contact Use Class 4 applications. Although timber supply constraints are expected to ease as market pricing adjusts and demand rises, the long-term impact of bark beetle infestations and forest management policies means that European Redwood will
continue to play a larger role in UK timber supply. Merchants should prepare for an evolving market landscape where a greater proportion of their stock consists of Redwood to ensure they can continue to meet customer needs effectively.
By staying informed and proactive, merchants can navigate these changes, maintain customer confidence, and continue to thrive in a shifting timber market. Timber Development UK has published a trade note with more details about these changes, which TDUK members can login and read online, along with all the latest timber news, legislation updates and market statistics, at
www.timberdevelopment.uk. BMJ
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net April 2025
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