UK timber and panel product imports fell by nearly 3% in the first half of 2025, according to the latest TDUK statistics. While softwood, hardwood, and MDF shipments declined, engineered wood and plywood recorded strong growth, reflecting shifting supply dynamics and resilient demand for specialist products.
Total imports reached 4.76 million m³ in the first six months of 2025, down 2.9% from 4.90 million m³ in the first half of 2024. The bulk of this decline was driven by weaker demand in the second quarter of the year, with Q2 volumes 159,000m³ lower than in Q2 2024, outweighing a small increase of 16,000m³ in the first quarter.
Across the main product categories, imports of solid wood fell by 3.8% in H1 2025, while panel product imports declined by 1.2%. Softwood, hardwood, and medium-density fibreboard (MDF) sectors all recorded lower volumes, with softwood imports dropping by 4%. Much of this was due to a reduction of 145,000m³ in imports from Sweden – down 10% year-on-year. Ireland and Germany also supplied less softwood to the UK market, though imports from Latvia and Finland offset some of the decline, with combined volumes from those countries rising by 60,000m³. Growth of 7% from Latvia and 6% from Finland helped boost their market share.
For tropical hardwoods, a weaker Q2 2025 transformed a near 3% growth in Q1 2025 to a 6% loss for the first half of the year. MDF also saw a significant fall in volumes, with imports down -29% compared to the previous year.
Despite the overall downward trend, some product areas continued to perform well. Particleboard, plywood, and particularly engineered wood products (EWP) saw notable increases in imports, underlining the growing importance of these materials in construction and manufacturing. Engineered wood continues to buck the broader market slowdown, driven by its versatility and rising demand in sustainable building applications. Although EWP products are the smallest timber group analysed, they saw 14% growth in H1 2024, with each type of EWP growing strongly.
Softwood Plywood also enjoyed a 12.6% growth compared with 2024, with Brazil consolidating its position as the number one supplying country – accounting for almost three-quarters of all softwood plywood imported by the UK. Imports from China fell by a fifth, meanwhile, with Finnish imports also falling by a third.
Strong performances from engineered wood and panel products
While many traditional timber categories softened, engineered wood products have emerged as a standout performer. Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) imports rose by nearly 10% year-on-year, driven by stronger shipments from Finland and Poland, which together supplied over 90% of UK demand.
Cross-laminated timber (CLT) imports saw the largest percentage gain, climbing 20%, largely due to increased volumes from the Czech Republic, which offered competitive pricing alongside growth in Austrian supply.
Glulam imports also climbed by 12%, supported by Germany, Austria, and Estonia, which collectively supply over 70% of UK demand. Prices for glulam trended down by around 11% year-on-year, adding to its attractiveness for construction projects. I-beams, the largest EWP category by volume, posted an 18% rise in imports, with Poland and Sweden dominating the market and maintaining stable pricing.
Plywood imports also strengthened, with hardwood plywood shipments growing 11% and softwood plywood up 12.6% year-on-year. The sharp growth in hardwood plywood was mainly driven by China, which supplied an additional 58,000m³ in H1 2025, and Malaysia, up 12,500m³. In contrast, Indonesia and Latvia saw declines, with reductions also recorded from Finland, Uruguay, and Spain.
Hardwood shifts reveal mixed supply trends
Hardwood imports overall dipped by just under 2% in H1 2025, but the picture across supplying countries was highly uneven. The United States, France, and Latvia collectively increased their shipments by more than 15,000m³, a combined rise of 18%. Latvia’s supply of lower-cost temperate hardwoods surged by 78%, and U.S. shipments grew by 14%.
However, smaller suppliers experienced steep losses: Estonia’s shipments fell 14%, Romania’s dropped 19%, and imports from the Republic of Congo were down 10%. Tropical hardwood imports followed a similar pattern, with Cameroon (+6%) and Malaysia (+28%) offsetting declines from the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and several West African nations.
Mixed hardwood volumes, in contrast, rose sharply by 15%, helping to balance declines in temperate and tropical species. The combination of higher U.S. and Latvian supply, particularly of poplar, alder, and aspen, contributed to this shift, while Sweden and Estonia both recorded double-digit reductions.
MDF struggles while particleboard edges upward
MDF volumes have fallen sharply, dropping 29% in the first half of 2025. This marks a significant reversal after modest declines in 2024 and growth in 2023, with imports sliding to just 273,000m³ for the period. The category’s value also fell steeply, down 31%, reflecting both lower volumes and a decline in average prices.
Oriented strand board (OSB) imports remained broadly stable, slipping by only 0.4% compared to the same period last year. Its value edged up slightly by 1.2%, indicating steady pricing dynamics despite subdued demand.
Particleboard, by contrast, saw a modest 1.9% increase in imports, supported by stronger shipments from Germany and Spain, alongside a doubling of Chinese exports. France also maintained its position as a leading supplier, while Belgium and Portugal experienced notable reductions. Despite these volume gains, particleboard’s overall value fell by 10% due to a 12% decline in average prices.
Prices reflect supply shifts and volatility
Price trends across timber and panel products continue to diverge sharply. Softwood prices have risen steadily, with the average basket price for softwood imports reaching £291 per m³ in June 2025 – a 10.8% increase over H1 2024. Redwoods led the way, climbing 26%, while whitewood prices dropped by 5%.
Hardwood prices were broadly flat year-on-year, with temperate species rising 7% and tropical species falling 5%. The dominance of Chinese hardwood plywood imports has pushed prices down by 8.2% over the past year, with June prices averaging £386 per m³. By contrast, softwood plywood prices have been more volatile, rising nearly 9% in Q1 2025 before sliding by 4% in Q2, leaving prices 2.4% higher than the previous year.
Timber demand remains closely tied to housebuilding trends, which continue to show long-term weakness despite recent quarterly gains.
Housing starts in England were 23% higher in Q1 2025 compared to Q1 2024, but this follows a 25% decline in total starts during 2024. Completions also fell by 5% last year, with private-sector completions down 6%. The broader UK economy has grown modestly, with GDP up 1.2% year-on-year in Q2 2025. Interest rates eased slightly to 4.0% in August, but inflation remains above target, with CPI at 3.6% in June and CPIH at 4.1%. Exchange rates have fluctuated, with Sterling weakening against the Euro and Dollar, but showing resilience against some Asian currencies, influencing timber import costs and competitiveness.
Nick Boulton, Head of Technical and Trade Policy at TDUK, said: “After a relatively steady start to 2025, timber import volumes softened in the second quarter, resulting in a modest decline compared to last year. We’re seeing a mixed picture across product categories: softwood, hardwood and MDF volumes have eased back, while engineered wood products and other panel products are enjoying strong growth, reflecting ongoing market shifts. Rising softwood prices and subdued levels of housebuilding add complexity but the strong performance of engineered wood underlines its growing role in UK construction.”
* This article was originally published in Supplying Timber‘s Autumn 2025 issue.
