As Spain and Italy battle political and economic strife, their demand for U.S. hardwood has fallen by more than 40,000 cubic meters compared to 2011, according to the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC).
One Italian importer told the AHEC, "Our U.S. hardwood business is already slow, but now we are facing firming prices on replacement stock and in the current situation that is a hard pill to swallow."
Spanish importers report that consumption is painfully low as construction activity collapses, but there will always be demand for U.S. white oak, even as partially built and unsold houses flood the market.
The outlook in Germany, however, is a bit brighter. Demand for wood products stayed steady through an unseasonably wintery March and April. The UK's market is also holding steady, but importers are not giving in to optimism.
"We are hardly breaking records and certainly not celebrating. Business conditions remain tough and any drop in demand from the joinery sector will have a big impact on our hardwood sales," one UK importer told AHEC.
