UK softwood imports fell by 20.3% in January-September

   Moscow. Dec 21, 2009. /Lesprom Network/. UK softwood imports from January-September were down 20.3% compared with a year ago, TTJ reported.

Panels imports were down by 32%, with all timber imports 24% down on last year. The cumulative softwood volume for the nine months was 3.65 million cubic metres, down from 4.58 million cubic metres a year ago.

Sweden’s market share increased to 55% of all UK softwood imports during the period, followed by Finland (12%), Latvia (10%), Germany (6%) and Ireland (5%). Imports from Ireland increased by 20,000 cubic metres.

Hardwood imports fell 16.6% to 271,000 cubic metres, with the US’s leading market share of 24% falling 3.8% but still comfortably ahead of the next biggest exporter to the UK, Germany, which had a 8.7% share.