Month: December 2008

The US trade journal Hardwood Review Global provides a flavour of current depressed market conditions for hardwoods within the EU. In their November issue they note: “one major exporter said that hardwood demand in every European market – from the United Kingdom to Scandinavia to Germany to the Mediterranean – has been hurt by the economic downturn. European buyers were purchasing only enough lumber to fill gaps in inventory, and most were shopping around to get the best specifications for the lowest prices”. Hardwood Review Global go on to note that Italy’s export oriented furniture industry is suffering severely in the economic downturn, while the poor housing market has had a particularly profound impact on the Spanish and Portuguese door and window manufacturing sectors. Belgian importers are reporting that their purchases are down 40% compared to last year.