European Plywood Market Pressure Persists – ITTO European Market Report 15th December 2019

At the time of the last update on the European plywood market (ITTO TTMR Volume 23 Number 16, 16 -31 August 2019), the sector was experiencing a tightening market and competitive conditions. In the intervening four months, according to leading importers, not a lot has changed.  

Continue reading “European Plywood Market Pressure Persists – ITTO European Market Report 15th December 2019”
Share this:

STTC Conference Considers Links Between FLEGT Licenses and Forest Certification – ITTO European Market Report 30th November 2019

To rebuild share in the European market, the tropical wood sector must exploit emerging opportunities from the synergies between the FLEGT VPA process and private sector forest certification initiatives, and to focus relentlessly on communicating simple messages to target audiences of architects, designers and civil engineers on the carbon mitigation and forest conservation benefits of using sustainable tropical timber. 

Continue reading “STTC Conference Considers Links Between FLEGT Licenses and Forest Certification – ITTO European Market Report 30th November 2019”
Share this:

Pace of Growth in EU Tropical Timber Imports Slows in the Third Quarter – ITTO European Market Report 15th November 2019

The EU’s trade in tropical wood products was more buoyant in the first nine of months of 2019 than the same period in 2018. However, the rise in imports, which began in the second quarter of 2018, has levelled off since June this year. 

Continue reading “Pace of Growth in EU Tropical Timber Imports Slows in the Third Quarter – ITTO European Market Report 15th November 2019”
Share this:

Brexit Uncertainty Dampens UK Tropical Timber Demand – ITTO European Market Report 31st October 2019

After a reasonable start to the year, UK tropical timber importers report a marked slowdown in business in recent months which they attribute to market nerves surrounding the country’s still unresolved future relationship with the EU.

Continue reading “Brexit Uncertainty Dampens UK Tropical Timber Demand – ITTO European Market Report 31st October 2019”
Share this:

Netherlands’ Rising Influence in EU Tropical Timber Trade – ITTO European Market Report 15th October 2019

The Netherlands has traditionally played an important role as a driver of tropical timber demand in the EU. In addition to relatively large timber consumption for water protection works, and a long-term preference for Asian meranti for window frames, the Netherlands acts as a hub for distribution of tropical wood products to other parts of the EU. The Dutch government and private sector have also been influential in development of environmental procurement practices throughout the continent. 

Continue reading “Netherlands’ Rising Influence in EU Tropical Timber Trade – ITTO European Market Report 15th October 2019”
Share this:

EU Tropical Wood Trade up 16% in the First Half of 2019 – ITTO European Market Report 30th September 2019

The EU’s trade in tropical wood products was more buoyant in the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2018. Total imports of all wood products (classified in HS Chapter 44) from tropical countries in the first half of 2019 were 1.24 million metric tonnes (MT), 16% more than the same period in 2018. Import value increased 15% to €1.26 billion. 

Continue reading “EU Tropical Wood Trade up 16% in the First Half of 2019 – ITTO European Market Report 30th September 2019”
Share this:

Shrinking EU Demand for Tropical Flooring – ITTO European Market Report 15th September 2019

Total imports of real-wood flooring into the EU increased 6.2% to 29.52 million m2 in 2018. Tropical countries accounted for only 9.2% of total imports in 2018, down from 11.1% the previous year and close to 50% before the financial crises. After nearly two decades of almost continuous decline, the real-wood flooring sector in the EU is now a negligible market for VPA partner timber products (Chart 1).

Continue reading “Shrinking EU Demand for Tropical Flooring – ITTO European Market Report 15th September 2019”
Share this:

EU Wood Manufacturing Struggles with Slow Growth and Substitutes – ITTO European Market Report 15th August 2019

The EU wood joinery sector continued to grow only very slowly in 2018, well below the pace of increase in the wider construction sector. While joinery production and consumption gained momentum in Germany, Austria, Spain, the Netherlands and Belgium last year, it remained subdued in Italy, the UK, France and Scandinavia. 

Continue reading “EU Wood Manufacturing Struggles with Slow Growth and Substitutes – ITTO European Market Report 15th August 2019”
Share this:

Brexit Bites, But EU Hardwood Buoyed by New Marketing Moves – ITTO European Market Report 31st July 2019

The uncertainty surrounding Brexit may be casting a shadow over the UK market. However, the wider EU hardwood sector reports generally steady, in some cases strong trading in 2019 to date including in tropical timber, despite some slowdown in economic activity and increased downside concerns about the medium-term outlook.

Continue reading “Brexit Bites, But EU Hardwood Buoyed by New Marketing Moves – ITTO European Market Report 31st July 2019”
Share this: