Newest statistics from industry frame Bushes Building UK (TDUK) display that overall imports of trees and panel product reached 4.76 million m³ within the first six months of 2025.
This was once down 2.9% from 4.90 million m³ within the first part of 2024.
The majority of the decline was once pushed via weaker call for in the second one quarter of the yr, with Q2 volumes 159,000 m³ not up to in Q2 2024, outweighing a small building up of 16,000 m³ within the first quarter, mentioned TDUK.
Throughout the primary product classes, imports of forged wooden fell via 3.8% in H1 2025, whilst panel product imports declined via 1.2%. Softwood, hardwood, and medium-density fibreboard (MDF) sectors all recorded decrease volumes, with softwood imports shedding via 4%. A lot of this was once because of a discount of 145,000 m³ in imports from Sweden – down 10% year-on-year. Eire and Germany additionally equipped much less softwood to the United Kingdom marketplace, despite the fact that imports from Latvia and Finland offset one of the decline, with mixed volumes from the ones international locations emerging via 60,000 m³. Expansion of seven% from Latvia and six% from Finland helped spice up their marketplace percentage.
For tropical hardwoods, a weaker Q2 2025 remodeled a close to 3% expansion in Q1 2025 to a 6% loss for the primary part of the yr. MDF additionally noticed an important fall in volumes, with imports down 29% in comparison to the former yr.
Regardless of the total downward development, some product spaces endured to develop. Particleboard, plywood and specifically engineered wooden merchandise (EWP) noticed will increase in imports, underlining the rising significance of those fabrics in building and production, TDUK mentioned. Engineered wooden continues to dollar the wider marketplace slowdown. Even supposing the smallest trees workforce analysed, EWPs noticed 14% expansion in H1 2024, with each and every sort rising strongly.
Softwood plywood noticed 12.6% expansion in comparison with 2024, with Brazil consolidating its place as the #1 supplying nation – accounting for just about three-quarters of all softwood plywood imported via the United Kingdom. Imports from China fell via a 5th, in the meantime, with Finnish imports falling via a 3rd.
The TDUK file additionally highlighted important motion in pricing. Softwood costs rose 11% within the first part of 2025, a mirrored image of provide constraints and evolving marketplace prerequisites. Whitewood values in H1 2025 had been 5% not up to H1 2024, whilst redwood values rose via 26%.
The price of all plywood imported via the United Kingdom in H1 2025 was once 2% upper than in H1 2024. Hardwood plywood values fell via 2% whilst softwood plywood values rose via 15%. The expansion in softwood plywood values was once generated via a 13% building up in quantity coupled with a 2% upward thrust in reasonable costs. The autumn of two% in hardwood worth was once because of a 12% fall within the reasonable worth coupled with an 11% building up in quantity.
TDUK head of technical and industry Nick Boulton mentioned: “After a rather secure begin to 2025, trees import volumes softened in the second one quarter, leading to a modest decline total of slightly below 3% in comparison to final yr. We’re seeing a blended image throughout product classes: softwood, hardwood, and MDF volumes have eased again, whilst engineered wooden merchandise and different panel merchandise are taking part in sturdy expansion, reflecting ongoing shifts in marketplace personal tastes.
“Emerging softwood costs and subdued ranges of housebuilding upload additional complexity to the outlook, however the sturdy efficiency of engineered wooden underlines its rising position in UK building and production. TDUK will proceed to watch those marketplace developments intently and strengthen individuals in navigating this evolving buying and selling atmosphere.”
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