FEATURE TDUK
Getting Back to a ‘New Normal’
Timber Development UK examines the current state of the timber market as we move ahead in 2022.
W
e’ve been through an extraordinary two-year journey right
“It is normal for timber and panel product imports to tail off towards
across the construction industry. Brexit, Covid-19 and a
the winter months as construction demand slows amidst the festive
shortage of materials caused demand to spike in almost
season,” says Nick Boulton, head of trade and technical policy. “The fall in
every product sector – and timber was no exception. Timber
the volumes of imports in Q4 2021 also likely reflects the state of supply
imports to the UK surged during 2021, with more than six million m3
lines in the structural softwood market, which appeared to be largely
entering the country during the first six months of the year. This was the
saturated at that time. As the weather improves and demand for timber
highest level of imports seen since 2007.
climbs again, we expect to see timber imports rebound in our trade
Typical timber imports rarely exceed one million m3 in a single month, and
statistics, which is a regular pattern for the timber industry. Over the
yet June 2021 was the fifth time that barrier was broken between Q4 of 2020
coming year we expect to see a comparatively stable market – but this
and Q2 of 2021 – proof of just how high demand for timber products was
doesn’t mean there won’t be any squeeze on the supply chain particularly
during that time.
amidst rising international demand.”
This surge in demand and the resulting difficulties of supply caused
It seems unlikely that demand will return to the extremely high levels
concerns right across the supply chain and led to countless column inches in
we saw last year, but timber is a popular building material, as evidenced by
the mainstream media as newspapers and TV news channels asked why there
the media focus on the shortages experienced during the pandemic. We
was a shortage and when people would be able to source the fence panels,
would expect to see that popularity continue going forward, especially
timber sheds and sleepers that they wanted to use to spruce up their gardens
as the wider construction industry grapples with the need to find more
and improve their homes post lockdown.
efficient and sustainable building methods.
These shortages inevitably caused prices to rise sharply, but as we settle into
Timber is an extremely low-carbon building material when
2022 calm has mostly been restored to the timber supply chain. Merchant and
compared with alternative building products such as cement and steel.
supplier stocks of timber have been replenished across most of the country, and
The Climate Change Committee has highlighted that increasing the
while some construction products are still in short supply, the timber industry
number of new homes built using timber frame construction from
has recovered well, and demand has returned to more typical levels.
27,000 a year to 270,000 could triple the amount of carbon stored in
Our latest market statistics show that timber and panel product import
UK homes – a significant potential benefit as the government looks to
volumes in Q4 of 2021 continued to decline, with volumes in November 2021
create a net-zero economy.
158,000m3 down on the volumes seen in October 2021. Despite this drop
It’s imperative that the entire timber supply chain comes together to
towards the end of the year, with 768,000m³ of timber and panel products
push a holistic vision of sustainable, low-carbon building that puts timber
imported into the UK in November 2021, the total volume of imports reported
at the centre of the conversation and helps shape a new future for timber
in 2021 exceeded 11 million m³.
within the construction industry.
Most product categories are also nearing record import volumes in 2021 even as they enter more regular patterns of supply and demand – including
Timber Development UK is the new name for the Timber Trade
the usual winter decline. It’s clear that the demand for timber remains
Federation, as we unite with TRADA to form a new industry
strong, and at Timber Development UK we would expect to see this continue
association that can offer guidance and support to every facet of
throughout 2022 and beyond.
the supply chain. More at www.ttf.co.uk
Timber Construction Magazine
Spring 2022
12
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