Hardwood consumption in Spain has recovered some ground, but growth remains slow and hardwood products are coming under renewed pressure from substitutes, including other wood non-wood products. More positively for tropical wood, tightening supply and rising prices for European oak and American white oak, is encouraging some importers to focus again on tropical wood.

These were some of the messages that came out of the General Assembly of the Spanish timber trade association AEIM held in Madrid on 10 March.