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The Timber Trades Federation says that the timber market has grown for the first time in three years in the UK.
The TTF Statistical Review 2011 found that the consumption of timber and panel products grew to more than 14m cu m in 2010, with imports growing by 8.4% in volume, to 8.37m cu m3. UK production increased by 9.2% to 6.45m cu m and the industry was worth around £3.13bn by value.
However, rising raw material and energy costs have taken their toll and most of the improvement came only in the first half of the year. Imports, for example, rose 13% in the first six months and only a further 3% after that.
TTF chief executive John White said: “While 2010 was, thankfully, an improvement on the two previous years, demand remains subdued in many markets. The UK timber industry is still challenged by the weak economic recovery.”
