UK timber imports hold steady with minor 0.2% drop through November 2024

Posted on February 12, 2025   |  

UK timber and panel product imports from January to November 2024 fell slightly by 0.2% (20,000m³) compared to the same period in 2023.

Solid wood imports rose by 0.3% in 2024, while panel product imports dropped by 1.3%, an improvement from a 2.5% decline the previous month.

Imports surged in October (15%) and November (11%), cutting the annual shortfall and pushing four major product categories ahead of 2023 levels.

Softwood imports were up 0.2% by November 2024, marking the first increase of the year. The value of planned softwood grew by 1.7%, but sawn softwood value dipped by 1.4%.

Countries like Norway, Austria, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and Canada sent more timber to the UK in 2024, balancing out lower supplies from Sweden, Finland, and Germany.

Hardwood imports rose, shrinking the deficit to 11,000m³ by November 2024, driven by increases from Latvia (14%), Estonia (8%), and Romania (9%).

Tropical hardwood imports dropped 3.5% in 2024 due to reduced volumes from Cameroon (down 3,500m³), the DRC (down 2,500m³), and Malaysia (down 2,000m³), though imports from the Congo Republic and Poland increased.

Hardwood plywood imports grew by 1.6% (15,000m³) in the first 11 months of 2024, led by China’s rise of over 30,000m³ and a 3,000m³ increase from Latvia.

Most of the hardwood plywood growth happened in November 2024, with China adding over 12,000m³ and Indonesia and Malaysia also boosting their exports.