For the next three weeks the building industry will be on holiday. With few timber
deliveries taking place and with a continuing lack of confidence in the market going
forward no-one is very optimistic. The introduction of the euro is on everyones' mind
and how this will affect sales and business in general is yet to be seen.
Prices for wood products remain steady with margins slowly being pushed up as inflation
is at its lowest level for nearly forty years but unemployment is beginning to rise.
UK sales of furniture and floor coverings recovered in November, according to the CBI
Distributive Trades Survey. A balance of 19% of stores reported annual sales volume
growth, this compares with 32% which saw sales fall in October. Growth is higher than a
year ago, when a just 10% reported sales growth. In November, 29% of retailers saw sales
growth, up from in October.
Interwood Ltd, the UK's oldest woodworking machinery distributor (the company has traded
since 1928), ceased trading on October 31 and will go soon into liquidation. Several
independent distributors have been lost in the UK. Trends are changing and global
manufacturers are setting up their own regional sales offices.
West African Log Prices in UK
| West African Log Prices in UK |
| FOB |
|
|
| plus commission |
|
per Cu.m |
| Sapele |
80cm+LM-C |
FFR 1500-1650 |
| Iroko |
80cm+LM-C |
FFR 1900-1950 |
| N'Gollon |
70cm+ LM-C |
FFR 1250-1400 |
| Ayous |
80cm+LM-C |
FFR 1100-1200 |
UK Sawnwood Prices
| FOB plus Commission |
per Cu.m |
| Teak 1st Quality 1"x8"x8' |
Stg2250-2600 |
| Tulipwood |
FAS 25mm |
Stg310 |
| Cedro |
FAS 25mm |
Stg430 |
|
|
|
| DR Meranti |
Sel/Btr 25mm |
Stg250-280  |
| Keruing |
Std/Btr 25mm |
Stg218 |
|
|
|
| Sapele |
FAS 25mm |
Stg300-31 |
| Iroko |
FAS 25mm |
Stg330 |
| Khaya |
FAS 25mm |
Stg260-330 |
| Utile |
FAS 25mm |
Stg370-418 |
| Wawa |
No1. C&S 25mm |
Stg155 |
Plywood and MDF in the UK
| CIF |
per Cu.m |
| Brazilian WBP BB/CC 6mm |
US$390 |
| " Mahogany 6mm |
US$1250 |
| Indonesian WBP 6mm |
US$350-400 |
|
|
| Eire, MDF BS1142 |
per 10 Sq.m |
| CIF |
|
| 12mm |
Stg32.00 |
For more information on the trends in the UK market please see www.worldwidewood.com
|
