UK Timber and Panel Product Imports Drop 3.9% in First Half of 2026

UK timber and panel product imports remained below previous levels throughout the first half of 2026, according to the latest industry figures from Timber Development UK (TDUK). Total combined volumes for the primary timber categories fell by 3.9% in H1 2026 when compared against the corresponding period in 2025, reflecting persistent sluggishness across national construction activity and housing starts.

Volume Drops Across Core Timber Categories

The import contraction spans key structural and sheet materials used widely across housebuilding, joinery, and general site works. TDUK data reveals that weak demand from main contractors and regional housebuilders continues to suppress bulk purchasing by timber merchants and distribution networks across the country. Alongside reduced import volumes, baseline import values and landed pricing have shifted in response to global supply adjustments and muted UK site consumption.

Supply Chain Stability Amid Low Demand

Despite lower import volumes, supply chains have avoided major stock deficits due to slowed residential building and domestic refurbishment projects. Merchants are maintaining tighter control over yard inventories, ordering smaller consignments to balance holding costs against fluctuating site demand.

What This Means for Tradespeople and Buying Decisions

What does this mean for a UK tradesperson or DIYer actually buying this kit — does it change what they should pay, buy, or watch out for?

For joiners, carpenters, and general builders buying structural softwoods, CLS, or sheet materials like OSB and plywood from Travis Perkins, Jewson, or Wickes, lower import volumes mean merchant yards are managing stock levels tightly. While there is no immediate widespread material shortage, trade buyers should watch out for spot price volatility on specific timber grades if localized demand surges unexpectedly. Rather than holding large quantities of timber in workshops or on site, tradespeople should buy project-by-project to avoid carrying holding costs. When quoting larger jobs, builders should verify stock availability with local merchants early to ensure specific panel sizes or treated structural timbers are readily available at stable prices.

Reported by Builders Merchants Journal — original article