Trade statistics from Norbord indicate that sales of OSB in the UK have overtaken imports of plywood for the first time.
Latest statistics have highlighted that sales of OSB in the UK have exceeded those of imported softwood plywood for the first time. This indication is derived from Norbord’s own production and sales figures of SterlingOSB, plus OSB statistics available from EuroStat and data on plywood imports from HM Revenues & Customs.
Theresa-Marie McConnachie, Norbord’s Business Intelligence Manager, said: “Our latest analysis, based on year-to-date November statistics, shows a definite rise in OSB substitution over plywood. The latest monthly update from the Timber Trade Federation, Timber Statistics February 2017, backs up our view that OSB has overtaken plywood in the UK as it highlights how year-to-date November softwood plywood imports are down.”
In the eleven months from January to November 2016, softwood plywood imports have decreased by 2.5% compared to the same period in 2015. In comparison, OSB imports dropped during the January to November 2016 period, posting over 5% decrease in volume compared to the same period in 2015. The TTF Statistics also highlights that OSB exports increased by over 19% in the same period.
The weakening of the sterling on international currency markets, following the Brexit referendum in June 2016, obviously had a detrimental effect on plywood imports.
SterlingOSB is the only OSB manufactured in the UK, and therefore remains unaffected by the current currency situation. Over the past 30 years, since Norbord first started producing OSB at the Inverness mill, the company has made a considerable investment in positioning OSB in the marketplace as a replacement for plywood. Norbord has focused promotional activities on raising the awareness of builders’ merchants and end users to the many applications of this versatile building material.
For more information, visit: www.norbord.co.uk
