Flooring Supplier Not Worried By Recent Fall in EU Tropical Timber Imports

BATTLESBRIDGE, U.K. - May 8, 2013 - PRLog -- The staff at Green Apple Flooring were surprised to learn that, according to statistics released by the Global Wood Trade Network, imports of sawn tropical hardwood to all European Union countries dropped by 13% in 2012 when compared to statistics from the previous year. Just 996,000 cubic metres of tropical timber, including African variety sapele and South American export cumaru, were ordered into the EU – half the volume of imports recorded prior to the economic downturn.

Countries such as Cameroon, Brazil, Malaysia, Ghana and Gabon received less orders from major players across the European continent. Timber suppliers in Belgium, Italy, France, the Netherlands and the UK consumed significantly less tropical sawn lumber than in 2011. Malaysian and Brazilian markets were the hardest hit, reporting a fall in imports of 27% and 22% respectively, though Cameroon is still considered the top supplier of tropical timber and is responsible for 36% of total supply to the EU.

The report goes on to discuss a number of reasons why EU countries are less eager to import exotic timbers from neighbouring continents. It suggests that, first and foremost, EU countries are currently sitting on a sufficient level of stock to cater for consumer demand, and are therefore reluctant to over-order timber. The Trade Network also mentions the fact that many importers chose to build their stocks before the recent EU timber legislation came into effect at the beginning of March in order to cut admin costs as suitable ‘chain of custody’ procedures were tested for the first time. A representative from Green Apple Flooring agrees that these new laws have had a profound impact on companies at each stage of the supply chain, but believes that overall buying confidence is low as a result of economic instability.

“Suppliers are still obliged to buy enough wood products to meet the demands of their customers, but are less likely to order more unusual species in case they simply don’t sell,” he explains. “The fact that engineered wood products are becoming so popular in the EU may also have affected tropical timber imports, as these are often cheaper to manufacture and don’t incur the same level of transportation and handling costs.”

Green Apple Flooring supplies an extensive range of solid wood, engineered and laminate flooring to the UK.  The company is proud to stock flooring and maintenance products from some of the best-known flooring brands in Europe, including Quickstep and Elka, at extremely competitive prices.  Visit the company’s website at http://www.greenappleflooring.co.uk for further information or call 0800 002 9525 to speak to a member of staff.