2018 saw a value increase of 5.1% for imported timber products in the EU compared to the previous year. In 2017, the increase amounted to +2.4%. Imports, in other words, are gathering pace and - for the first time in ten years - reached pre-crisis level with a total value of €19.4 billion last year. Lumber yielded €3.6 billion which was a 10% gain, as the current ITTO TTM report indicates. Especially the CIS boosted deliveries, and so did Brazil. East Asia recovered after a slump in 2018 and kept its level while the United States delivered less.
Panel imports to the EU grew by 8% in 2018 (€3.1 billion). This means that last year's gain (+9%) was mostly maintained. The value of imported wood furniture dropped 1% where China and Norway regressed as suppliers and (south-)east European countries gained significance. India increased its timber furniture imports to the EU. Products made from tropical woods maintained levels in 2018 when it comes to imports into the EU. Flooring products were primarily delivered by China in 2018, but Ukraine raised exports to the EU as well.
The import value of wood fuel gained an impressive 20% to a total of €2.5 billion. This mainly pertained to US pellets delivered to Great Britain and Eastern European wood fuel to continental EU countries. Brazil and Uruguay gained momentum.
