{"id":429702,"date":"2020-12-11T12:21:07","date_gmt":"2020-12-11T12:21:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/?p=429702"},"modified":"2020-12-11T12:21:07","modified_gmt":"2020-12-11T12:21:07","slug":"timber-supplies-under-pressure-well-into-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/supply-chain\/timber-supplies-under-pressure-well-into-2021-11-12-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"Timber supplies under pressure \u2018well into 2021\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Timber supplies will be under pressure for months to come, a trade body has warned.<\/p>\n

The effects of COVID shutdowns earlier this year and huge domestic demand during lockdown hit the availability of the material in 2020 and the Timber Trade Federation said the strain on the supply chain will continue until at least the second quarter of 2021.<\/p>\n

Recent coronavirus cases in Sweden, the biggest exporter of the material to the UK, have seen delivery crews having to self-isolate, the body said, adding to an already strained situation. Companies are being advised to plan well in advance if they require timber for projects.<\/p>\n

Earlier this week, Construction News<\/em> reported<\/a> the warning from the Builders Merchants Federation that the availability of products imported in containers, mainly from the Far East, such as ironmongery, plumbing items, tools and natural stone is being hit by congestion at UK ports.<\/p>\n

Timber Trade Federation chief executive David Hopkins said: \u201cIt is understandable that many customers should be surprised by, and angry about, the new reality we are facing together. The reported price inflation has also made it difficult for some manufacturers to accurately price projects for customers.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe would like to reassure the wider sector that volume supplies are available, though on much longer lead times than we have all been used to. This situation will be with us well into 2021 so we advise contacting your suppliers to discuss meeting your needs for the year ahead. The challenge going forward will be to achieve the balanced product mix needed by the market, a factor which may be further complicated by the haulage demands and new customs and plant health procedures engendered by Brexit.\u201d<\/p>\n

As negotiations between the UK Government and European Union negotiators continue with the chances of a no-deal scenario having said to have increased in the past couple of days, other industry figures have also warned about the impact on construction.<\/p>\n

Turner & Townsend UK managing director of cost management Paul Connolly said: \u201cThe upcoming end to the Brexit transition period with COVID-19 related restrictions still in place in the UK and around the world, leaves significant uncertainty left to be navigated as we move into 2021. Clients must act quickly now to ensure that impacts to continuity are mitigated. This will require an in-depth assessment of existing risk management plans and continued close collaboration with every level of the supply chain.\u201d<\/p>\n

National Federation of Roofing Contractors chief executive James Talman said: \u201cWe have serious concerns that a lack of preparation on the part of the government could have a major impact on industry being able to bring in products and raw materials critical to UK infrastructure and housebuilding. There is also much uncertainty in the market around any future tariffs making it very difficult for businesses to plan for the year ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n

He called for more support from government in the event of a no-deal Brexit including a deferral of the introduction of any tariffs and an extension to the transitional arrangements on the move of goods.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Timber supplies will be under pressure for months to come, a trade body has warned. The effects of COVID shutdowns earlier this year and huge domestic demand during lockdown hit the availability of the material in 2020 and the Timber Trade Federation said the strain on the supply chain will continue until at least the …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53981,"featured_media":429688,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false},"categories":[564,57171],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n