LONDON: UK softwood imports for the full year 2014 increased in value by 21% to £1.14bn, according to the Timber Trade Federation’s initial annual statistics.
In the 11 months to November 2014, softwood import volumes were 17% higher.
The value of UK hardwood imports in 2014 was £277m, an increase of 16% over 2013. Hardwood import volumes in the 11 months to November 2014 were 22% higher than in 2013.
The value of hardwood plywood imports to the UK for the full year was very similar to 2013 at £308m. Import figures for the 11 months was marginally less – 0.7% lower than over the same period in 2013. Softwood plywood import values in 2014 were lower by 5% over 2013, while import volumes to November were higher by 6%.