The EU imported 420,000 metric tonnes (MT) of wood products from Indonesia in the year ending September 2018 compared to 410,000 MT in the year ending September 2017. A continuing rise in EU imports of Indonesian plywood and charcoal has offset an on-going decline in imports of Indonesia flooring and other processed products.

EU imports of Indonesian wood furniture, sawnwood/decking, and joinery have remained broadly flat this year. (Chart 1).

Imports of Indonesian wood products have increased sharply in the Netherlands this year and have continued to rise in the UK, although at a slower pace than in the previous two years. Imports have been broadly flat this year in most of the other leading EU markets for Indonesian wood products including Germany, France, Italy, Greece and Denmark. Imports in Belgium have declined this year after rising in 2018. (Chart 2).

In total, the EU imported 276,000 MT of pulp and paper products from Indonesia in the year ending September 2018 compared to 268,000 MT in the year ending September 2017. After a sharp increase in the last quarter of 2017, EU imports of Indonesian paper products have been slowing this year. EU imports of pulp from Indonesia have returned to negligible levels in 2018 after a brief surge in imports in the second half of 2016 and early 2017. (Chart 3).

Imports of Indonesian pulp and paper products increased sharply in the UK and Belgium in the second half 2017 but have slowed again this year. Imports of these products in Italy increased sharply in 2016, but have been sliding since then. Imports in Greece, Romania, Spain, and Germany have increased this year after a dip in 2017. Imports in Poland are rising slowly. (Chart 4).