As the UK softwood trade returned from the holidays, opinions were mixed regarding the opening market conditions and prospects for Q1 2026.
The New Year resumption followed an unexpectedly strong December for some, as several merchants saw a pick-up in demand during the final 4–5 weeks of trading.
Although harsh winter weather delayed work on many construction sites at the start of January, some softwood importers reported an uptick in demand from their merchant customers, driven by restocking and the need to accommodate re-scheduled site call-offs being moved forward.
While some benefited from this improving trend, other merchants faced struggling sales. Further up the supply chain, certain importers were still attempting to offload landed stocks by offering below-market prices. These discounted offers had a ripple effect throughout the industry, slowing necessary price increases to enhance the value of softwood and causing frustration among suppliers eager to progress and return to profitability.
From the shippers’ perspective, production cuts made over the past six months, combined with improving demand and pricing structures in other markets such as Belgium and Holland, are expected to create a supply-driven market and likely lead to price rises in the British market toward Q2.
In addition to the Scandinavian mills’ production reductions, storms in early January impacted large areas of forest stands. In Sweden, the storm (locally named Johannes) caused extensive windthrow, with early assessments estimating damages in billions of Kronor (SEK).
-
TTJ’s latest Softwood Market Report includes figures from the UNECE Committee on Forests and the Forest Industry (COFFI), November 2025 Geneva.
Source: UK softwood trade mulls 2026 prospects – Timber Trades Journal
