Wednesday 5th May 2021.
Merchants and building materials producers have warned timber shortages look set to worsen as construction demand rises.
Timber supplies are tightening with one contractor reporting a leading national merchant chain ran out of basic shuttering timber a few weeks ago.
World prices for sawn timber have soared in the face of ongoing supply chain disruptions due to the reduced availability of shipping containers, and strong global demand.
This has seen timber join steel in seeing unprecedented price hikes over the last few months.
Nick Boulton, Head of Technical and Trade at the Timber Trade Federation, said: “We are seeing demand for wood products continuing to increase at UK, EU and Global levels which coupled with ongoing supply chain disruptions caused by covid restrictions has inflated prices and extended lead times.”
Leaders of the Construction Leadership Council’s Product Availability working group have now warned timber, roof tiles and roofing membranes are the worst affected product areas for contractors.
Credit: https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2021/04/29/timber-and-steel-shortages-to-worsen/