FEATURE INDUSTRY SUPPLY
Making the Most of Timber Supplies
To help merchants address some of the current product shortages, the Timber Trade Federation (TTF) is recommending that buyers and suppliers collaborate closely and continue to plan ahead.
T
imber purchasers should be as flexible as possible with
more time-consuming, presenting a challenge when mills are under
specifications and quantities required, thus making the
pressure to maximise volume throughput. Supplies of panel products
most of available supplies. The TTF says that Q3 this
also continue to be greatly under pressure, and will remain so throughout
year will be the most challenging time for timber supply
2021, as there is little additional global production capacity available.
in recent history. Sawmill stocks in countries such as Sweden, a major
Significant demand is being experienced for particular products such as
supplier of structural timbers to the UK, are at their lowest for some 20
Melamine-faced panels, particularly in MDF, as consumers improve their
years, according to Swedish Wood, though production up to the summer
homes and create office-style working spaces.
was, in their words, proceeding at “full throttle”. The Construction
In the wider construction sector, some house-builders are turning to
Leadership Council’s Product Availability Group has also issued an alert
engineered wood products such as LVL and CLT for building frameworks,
on shortages of all construction products of which timber is only one.
and modified wood products for claddings. However as these, alongside
A statement from EOS, the European sawmill industry organisation, added that the wider industry is taking the demand situation “very
I-joists and metal web joists, utilise the same wood resources, they are subject to similar constraints on supply.
seriously” and is “working on solutions” including productivity
Builders seeking hardwoods such as green Oak for framing on more
development and resource efficiency. TTF members too are looking
specialist projects are struggling to full supply gaps. All categories of
at ways to increase resource efficiency, adapting and in some cases
hardwoods from across the globe are now observing shortages, though
laminating timbers to help achieve customers’ requirements.
as yet these are not as acute as in the structural softwood sector.
Summer will see sawmills across Europe catching up on maintenance
European and American hardwoods, including all varieties of Oak, are
schedules, as they have been working at pace throughout the pandemic
in very strong demand. Supplies of European Oak are already becoming
to fulfil as much demand as possible. Any periods of shut-down may
scarce as buyers switch away from decreasing supplies of American White
well add to supply pressures, which will in turn be felt in earnest here in
Oak. As hardwoods need a long production cycle, supply is set to narrow
Britain over the next few months. The TTF is therefore recommending
further through the autumn.
constant communication with suppliers and preparing wood customers
Hardwood buyers are increasingly turning to African species to fill supply
for the potential of lengthening lead times and cost increases. Placing
gaps, with supplies of Sapele, Sipo (Utile) and Iroko already difficult. Rising
orders well ahead of time is also recommended.
costs of shipping containers, one of the many legacies of the pandemic, are
With almost all timber arriving in the UK being pre-sold, there
still with us, adding to pricing pressures. Buyers of South East Asian timbers
is no excess stock available. Even for those companies with forward
such as Meranti and Keruing are already purchasing on forward allocations;
purchasing strategies, the continuing exceptionally high demand and lack
Bangkirai (Yellow Balau) for decking is also in very short supply.
of balancing processing capacity means some companies may not receive
TTF members are doing their best to service customers. The growth in
all the material they need for their businesses. The level of demand is
global demand for timber of all kinds, now recognised for its potential to
currently higher than can be sustained by existing production facilities
store carbon in building, is likely to continue in the medium term. Upward
and available input supplies across the UK and Europe.
price trends are thus likely to continue for some time to come.
Supplies of BS tile batten are particularly problematic. An increased More at www.ttf.co.uk
demand for small sections makes the grading and inspection process
Timber Trader UK Magazine
Summer 2021
16
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