EU28 imports of plywood increased 12% to 3.7 million m3 in 2014, the highest level since before the financial crises. Import value also increased 12% to €1.35 billion. The rise was driven mainly by improved consumption in several European markets, notably the UK. Another key factor was an increase in supply of Russian birch plywood combined with a sharp decrease in the value of the Russian rouble on foreign exchange markets which increased competitiveness of imported Russian product relative to domestic production. Another notable feature of the European plywood market in 2014 were signs that rising concern for the environmental and technical performance of plywood is having a more a significant impact on trade.
Continue reading “EU Plywood Imports Hit Highest Level Since the Financial Crises – ITTO European Market Report 30th April 2015”More Positive Attitude to Tropical Timber Emerges in Europe – ITTO European Report 15th April 2015
The first quarter of 2015 has been a busy time for EU policy initiatives linked to tropical forest and market development programs for tropical timber. There seems now not only to be a new urgency surrounding these initiatives but also a growing pragmatism with potentially positive implications for the tropical timber industry.
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