Timber and panel import volumes reached 2.26 million cubic metres in Q1 this year, according to the latest Timber Development UK (TDUK) figures.
The 0.6% year-on-year growth was the first increase seen since 2021.
Volumes fell 1% in January 2025 and 9% in February, but a 13% increase in volumes in March 2025 resulted in cumulative growth for the quarter as a whole.
Following the instability seen between 2020 and 2022 鈥� with the covid pandemic at first suppressing economic activity and then unleashing a rebound 鈥� rates of growth and decline have since steadied.
Many of the main timber and panel products sectors expanded during Q1, with strong growth in volumes realised by OSB, plywood and engineered wood droducts (EWP). Softwood imports also grew by nearly 2%. The reduction in MDF volumes seen in Q1 2025 is being measured against a strong performance in Q1 2024.
Sawn and planed pine import volumes increased strongly in the early months of 2025. Pine volumes were 32% higher in Q1 2025 than in Q1 2024 鈥� an increase of more than 95,000 cubic metres. Most of this increase came Sweden, but growth was also recorded from Norway, Germany, the Netherlands and Estonia. Average prices of imported pine also rose by 4% in Q1 2025. Meanwhile, whitewood import volumes were 10% lower.
Total softwood import values rose by 12% year-on-year, supported by a 2% increase in volume and a 10% rise in average prices to 拢268 per cubic metre. Planed softwood values increased by 9%, while sawn softwood jumped 16%. Redwood values soared by 37% and mixed species by 24%, while whitewood values remained flat.
Hardwood import volumes declined by 2.8%, though key suppliers like the USA (+8%) and France (+4%) expanded their shipments. Tropical hardwoods grew nearly 3% in volume, led by Cameroon (+17%) and the DRC (+58%). In contrast, temperate hardwood volumes fell by 4%, driven by an 18% reduction from Estonia. Average hardwood prices rose by 4.5% to 拢811 per cubic metre, with mixed species showing the sharpest rise at 11%.
Plywood imports were mixed; hardwood plywood volumes edged up 1.1%, led by China and Malaysia, though values fell 1% due to lower prices. Softwood plywood values surged by 34% on the back of a 25% rise in volume and a 7% price increase, with Brazil supplying 80% of UK imports.
Particleboard imports were stable in volume, but saw an 11% drop in value due to a 12% fall in average price. Supply shifts included losses of -25% from Portugal and gains from Spain (+12%) and Luxembourg.
Overall, Q1 2025 exceeded the sector鈥檚 low expectations, TDUK said, with stronger-than-expected volumes and a clear upward movement in pricing, especially across softwood and softwood plywood.
TDUK head of technical and trade Nick Boulton said: 鈥淲hile challenges remain across the construction landscape, it鈥檚 encouraging to see import growth and forecasts pointing to improvements in the housing and RMI sectors 鈥� both key markets for timber. After a difficult few years, signs of recovery in new housing and the hope of a continued momentum in RMI give cause for cautious optimism but we fear may not come soon enough for some within the sector.
聽鈥淪oftwood imports have closely mirrored housing output over the long term, and with projected market growth through to 2027, the outlook for timber demand appears positive. For TDUK members, this offers a valuable opportunity to plan for gradual but sustainable growth in line with evolving market confidence and construction activity.鈥�
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