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The timber industry must prepare for future opportunities, attendees at the Timber Development UK’s (TDUK) Global Market Conference were told.
The conference, held at Northumberland Avenue, London on November 4, brought together 180 delegates from across the UK, Europe and Brazil to examine the challenges facing the timber supply chain.
While the outlook for 2027 remains challenging, from weak construction demand and rising production costs to global trade disruption and changing regulatory requirements, a recurring message throughout the conference was the need for businesses to look beyond current market conditions, identify opportunities for growth and prepare for the eventual recovery in construction activity.
Although speakers offered little expectation of a rapid recovery, they warned that the industry could face a very different set of challenges when demand returns, with tightening timber supplies, reduced sawmilling capacity and continuing skills shortages potentially restricting its ability to respond.
With potential supply constraints emerging across Europe and construction demand expected to improve only gradually, the message from the conference was that businesses cannot simply wait for timber market conditions to change. Instead, they must prepare now for the challenges and opportunities ahead.
