European imports of plywood from China edge 7% higher

30 October 2014

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The decline in EU plywood imports from China recorded last year has been reversed in the first half of 2014, according to IHB, the timber network.

With an overall European positive trend in imports of plywood (+7% in Q1), backed by rising purchases from major suppliers such as Russia (+21%) and Brazil (+9%), China has exported plywood worth €187,4m to Europe, an increase of 7% againstQ1, 2013the first half of 2013.

In the period mentioned, the UK imported Chinese plywood for a total of €89,1m, an increase of 8% compared to the first six months of 2013. Significantly decrease of imports from China were in Germany (-4%) and France (-11%), while Belgium, the second biggest European importer, increased its imports by 1%.

In terms of market shares, China continues to play an important role on the European plywood market. China currently is the second largest plywood exporter to EU, with a share of 14,3%; very close to Brazil (12,6%), which comes on third, and Russia (15.7%), the first supplier.