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EUTR continues to affect EU tropical timber imports

May 25, 2020 | Surveys & Project News

As a part of the IMM 2018 and 2019 EU trade surveys, respondents were asked whether FLEGT-licensing and the introduction of the EUTR had had any direct impact on the share of tropical timber in their overall timber imports[1]. As demonstrated in chart 1, contrasting impacts were identified for FLEGT-licensing and EUTR.

35% of respondents in 2018 and 38% in 2019 reported either small or big decreases in the share of tropical timber in their overall timber imports due to introduction of EUTR. Survey respondents indicated that EUTR due diligence had narrowed their supply base in tropical countries, in particular in Africa. An increasing concentration of tropical timber and timber product import trade in the hands of “specialist” exporters and importers was also noted. Respondents also indicated that EUTR had caused the sector to reconsider its supply chain relationships, which had frequently resulted in increasing substitution of tropical hardwoods with alternatives, including temperate hardwoods, chemically or thermally modified timber or non-wood substitutes. 

Chart 1: Impact of EUTR and FLEGT-licensing on tropical timber imports

EUTR chart 1

Source: IMM 2018/2019 EU trade surveys

No respondents in 2018 and just 2% of respondents in 2019 said their imports of tropical timber had increased as a result of EUTR. The one or two respondents who noted an increase said that some of their major clients’ trust in the legality of tropical timber and timber products had grown and their demand increased due to EUTR.

Roughly 60% in both years said there was no impact due to the introduction of the Regulation. Companies that did no note any impact of EUTR on their imports of tropical timber and timber products mostly stated that they had had due diligence processes in place before the introduction of EUTR and thus felt they and their suppliers were already fully compliant when the Regulation entered into force.

In the case of the market introduction of FLEGT-licensed timber from Indonesia, the majority of respondents – 87% (2018) and 83% (2019) – reported no change. At the same time, 13% of respondents in both years registered large or small increases in the share of tropical timber in their overall timber imports due to the market introduction of FLEGT-licensed timber from Indonesia. Only a small number of respondents in 2019 (5%) reported that their imports of tropical timber had declined due to the market introduction of FLEGT-licensed timber from Indonesia. Most of these respondents blamed this on reputational issues surrounding tropical timber, which, they said, had been placed back in spotlight due to the introduction of FLEGT Licensing. Demand for tropical timber imports – not just from Indonesia but overall – had declined as a result. One or two others said that some of their small and medium-sized suppliers in Indonesia had not become SVLK certified and were thus no longer able to supply them. No such responses had been recorded in 2018.

Limited availability of certified tropical timber has intensified substitution

The 2018 and 2019 surveys also questioned whether there were any direct impacts from the introduction of FLEGT-licensing and the EUTR on imports of timber certified by private certification and legality verification schemes. Chart 2 shows that private schemes, especially FSC, profited from the introduction of EUTR. A number of survey respondents remarked that they preferred buying certified timber since the EUTR came into force and have used certification as a means of compliance with EUTR due diligence requirements since.

However, capacity constraints for certified tropical timber, as already reported by IMM in 2018, persisted also in 2019, against the background of no further progress in forest certification in tropical countries. As a result, the stronger focus on certified products, both to support EUTR compliance and to achieve goals set by company procurement policies, has further intensified substitution of tropical timber products with alternatives made of temperate wood, which are much more readily available with FSC or PEFC certification. 

In addition to FSC and PEFC, respondents said they had been increasingly looking to other private legality verification schemes to ensure EUTR compliance. 

Chart 2: EUTR impact on certification and legality verification schemes

EUTR chart 2

Source: IMM 2018/2019 EU trade surveys

When asked whether the market introduction of FLEGT-licensed timber from Indonesia had had any impact on their purchases of certified timber (chart 3), the majority of companies answered “no change”. A smaller number or respondents – between 1 and 5% depending on the year and certification scheme – reported decreases.

Chart 3: FLEGT-licensing impact on certification and legality verification schemes

 EUTR chart 3

Source: IMM 2018/2019 EU trade survey

 

[1] It was not the aim of the EU Timber Regulation to promote or reduce imports of certain types of timber or timber products. However, market players report impacts as a side effect. https://www.flegtimm.eu/index.php/newsletter/imm-surveys-interviews/109-imm-survey-substitution-economic-crisis-and-diversion-of-supply-main-drivers-of-eu-timber-market-decline