Loss of share for tropical veneer in EU market during 2017

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ITTO/Fordaq
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Following three years of recovery, EU imports of hardwood veneer from the tropics declined 6% to 310,000 cu.m in 2017.

The decline in EU imports of tropical veneer contrasts with a significant rise in imports of veneer from temperate countries which increased 17% to 262,000 cu.m last year.

Imports from Ukraine, the EU’s largest external supplier of temperate hardwood veneer, increased 9% to 89,000 cu.m in 2017, while imports from Russia, the second largest supplier, increased 35% to 57,000 cu.m.

These increases in veneer imports from Eastern European countries during 2017 were driven partly by very weak exchange rates in the region, which has increased export competitiveness, and partly by policy measures to limit log exports and increase wood processing capacity in these countries.

In total, the EU imported 572,000 cu.m of hardwood veneer in 2017, 3% more than in 2016. The share of tropical veneer in total EU veneer import volume fell from 60% in 2016 to 54% last year.

EU imports of hardwood veneer from Gabon, the leading tropical supplier, ended the year 9% down compared to 2016 at 152,000 cu.m. EU veneer imports also declined from Côte d'Ivoire in 2017, by 12% to 69,000 cu.m.

Imports from Cameroon were stable at 32,000 cu.m in 2017, but increased 3% to 18,000 cu.m from Congo, 9% to 10,000 cu.m from Ghana, and 11% to 11,000 cu.m from Equatorial Guinea.

The downturn in EU imports of tropical veneer during 2017 was concentrated in France, Italy and Germany.

Imports fell 17% to 113,000 cu.m in France, 7% to 69,000 cu.m in Italy, and 26% to 12,000 cu.m in Germany. These falls were partially offset by rising imports in Spain (+4% to 49,000 cu.m), Greece (+27% to 25,000 cu.m), and Romania (+28% to 16,000 cu.m).

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