This report analyses the UK timber and joinery market, and includes commentary on both finished wood products, and timber processing/semi-finished goods.
Press Release Body = Timber & Joinery:Market Report 2006
Executive Summary
This report analyses the UK timber and joinery market, and includes commentary on both finished wood products, and timber processing/semi-finished goods. The finished wood products sector was worth an estimated £10.12bn in 2005, while the timber processing/semi-finished goods sector was worth £3.56bn (a decrease from 2004).
Products included in the finished goods sector are wooden furniture, builders\' carpentry and joinery, wooden containers and other wooden products such as ornaments, picture frames and marquetry. Activities included in the timber processing and semi-finished goods sector are sawmilling/planing of wood and products such as veneer sheets, plywood, laminboard, particle board and oriented strand board.
The UK timber and joinery market is affected by several important factors including general economic conditions, trends in construction output, the use of timber from properly managed forests, and the increasing levels of imports into the UK of finished wooden products.
The future of the UK construction market, with its large consumption of timber-based products, is an important issue for the timber and joinery market. Currently, the housing sector is showing reduced growth due to a lack of affordable homes. The Government is encouraging companies to design low-budget homes, and there is an opportunity for timber and joinery companies to be involved in these developments. Timber-frame homes are growing in popularity and there is increasing interest in timber-framed windows.
The use of sustainable materials is now a high-profile issue, and most companies in the timber and joinery market make considerable efforts to ensure that their timber is sourced in accordance with well-known certification schemes. However, in some parts of the world, illegal logging and corrupt timber trade still takes place, a situation that has led to criticism of the timber industry by environmental groups. Rising energy costs, both in processing and transportation, are also now a significant issue.
Future trends affecting the timber and joinery industry can be divided into two broad categories. In the timber and joinery industry, the sourcing of wood from properly managed forests will continue to be an issue. Trends in the construction industry will be critical, and there could be interesting opportunities in the fast-track building market. In the finished wooden products sector, the rising level of imports will also be of concern