The Downward Trend in Imports of Tropical Wood to The EU Remained Unabated in 2013

The downward trend in imports of tropical wood to the EU remained unabated in the first four months of 2013. According to information from the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), this applies to practically all the main product groups and supplier countries. Besides the continuing economic crisis in broad sweeps of Europe and the ensuing decrease in demand, another reason for the further reductions in the last few months has been limited availability in a variety of supplier countries. In a number of African countries in particular, log felling and transportation as well as value-adding in the works and shipment of finished products was restricted by political upheaval and damage to the transport infrastructure in the early months of 2013. The ITTO is also attributing part of the recent reduction in imports to the EU Timber Trade Regulation coming into force on 3 March 2013. An indicator for this is the fact that, at a total of 281,000 m3, EU imports of tropical logs, lumber, veneer, and plywood turned out to be considerably higher in January and February 2013 than in March and April at 243,000 m3. In the previous years, the volumes imported in the first four months had been more evenly distributed amongst them.