Production of sawn hardwood in the ECE region increased by 1.8% to 40.7 million cubic metres in 2015, rising in all three sub-regions (Europe, North America and CIS).
Consumption of sawn hardwood in the ECE region also increased to 35.6 million cubic metres in 2015, a 0.9% rise compared to 2014 and the fourth consecutive year of increase. Falling consumption in Europe and the CIS in 2015 was offset by rising consumption in North America.
It was reported that European consumption of sawn hardwood decreased 2.8% to 12.2 million cubic metres in 2015, mainly due to a significant decline in Turkish consumption. Consumption in EU28 countries increased by 0.8% in 2015, to 9.5 million cubic metres, benefiting from (albeit slow) growth in key sectors of the EU economy, including construction and furniture.
There has been little change in European hardwood fashion trends which remain heavily oriented towards the “oak look”. For example, oak is now used in over 70% of wood flooring manufactured in Europe while the share of tropical woods continues to decline and other temperate species account for only a small share.
Such is the strength of demand for oak in Europe, that supplies are becoming restricted and prices have been rising sharply this year.
According to COFFI, sawn hardwood consumption in the CIS sub-region fell 25.9% to 1.46 million cubic metres in 2015 following a 3.6% fall the year before. However, hardwood production in the CIS increased 2.3% to 3.4 million cubic metres, with exports taking up the slack.
The weakness of the rouble encouraged a 50.5% increase in sawn hardwood exports by the Russian Federation to 1.4 million cubic metres. The Russian Federation exported 1.2 million cubic metres to China in 2015, 49% more than in 2014 and by far the highest level ever recorded.
