Europe imported 24.3 million square meters of veneer from the United States in the first five months of 2015, a 6.1 percent increase from the 22.9 million square meters imported during the same period last year, according to a report released by the American Hardwood Export Council.
The level of veneer imports turned upward in 2014 following three years of decline. Imports to Europe in 2013, the last year of the downturn, were 52.2 million square meters. They jumped 8.6 percent to 56.7 million in 2014.
Despite the recovery since 2013, U.S. exports to Europe are still suffering from historically low rates on consumption and competition from non-wood surfaces, the report said.
Europe remains the largest importer of U.S. veneers, however, bringing in 27.4 percent in 2013 and 28.8 percent in 2014 of all U.S. veneer exports.
