UK timber and panel product imports remained below last year’s levels during the first half of 2026, in part due to falling UK housing starts , according to TDUK.

The combined volume of the UK's main timber and panel product imports was 3.9% lower in H1 2026 than during the same period in 2025.

Solid wood imports fell by 4.7%, while panel product imports were 2.5% lower. After a poor start to the year, import volumes improved during March and April, with April volumes sitting 4% higher than a year earlier. This improvement was short-lived, however, with volumes falling 8% year-on-year in May and 3% in June.

Softwood, which accounts for more than 60% of all timber and panel imports, was a major contributor to the overall decline. Import volumes fell 4.9% to 2.898 million m³ during the first six months of the year.

The latest Timber Development UK (TDUK) statistics note this weaker performance of softwood imports amid the backdrop of falling UK housing starts. Following historically low levels in 2024 and 2025, the Construction Products Association is forecasting a further 9% reduction in housing starts during 2026.

Meanwhile, hardwood imports were 1.5% lower than H1 2025, reflecting weaker volumes of temperate and mixed hardwoods. Tropical hardwood moved in the opposite direction, increasing by 3.5%. The largest falls were in total plywood import volumes at 13.6% lower, with hardwood plywood down 7.4% and softwood plywood falling 28.8%.

The picture across other panel product imports was more positive. Particleboard imports increased by 4.6%, with growth from Germany and Belgium and a strong increase in volumes from Luxembourg. Imports from China also increased during the period.

OSB imports rose by 2.3%, while MDF recorded the largest percentage increase among the main timber and panel product categories, with volumes up 13.1%.

Engineered wood product imports were 13% lower overall. CLT imports fell 60.7% and glulam volumes were down 17%, while LVL imports increased by 8.5%. I-beam imports remained virtually unchanged from the same period last year.

Nick Boulton, Head of Technical and Trade Policy at Timber Development UK, said: "The first half of 2026 presents a mixed picture for UK timber imports, but the headline position is that overall volumes remain weak and below the levels seen in previous years.

"We have also seen some changes in pricing during the first half of the year. Softwood prices fell back during Q2 following increases earlier in the year, while the reduction in lower-priced Chinese hardwood plywood imports in May and June resulted in average prices moving higher."

One brighter spot in TDUK's latest figures is the performance of UK timber and panel exports. Although export volumes remain small compared with imports, they have been on a growth path over recent years.

Softwood exports increased by 24% in the six months to June compared with H1 2025, continuing the growth seen over the past few years. Ireland remains by far the largest destination for UK-produced softwood, accounting for around 93% of exports.

MDF exports increased by 46% compared with H1 2025, reversing the downward trend recorded over the previous four years. Particleboard exports were 1.4% higher. OSB exports were slightly below H1 2025 overall following a poor first quarter, but Q2 volumes were 21% higher than during the same quarter last year.