According to the export statistics published by the Forest Department in the Latvian Ministry of Agriculture, a total of 73,900 cubic meters of plywood was exported from Latvia in the first quarter, a decrease of 23.6% compared to the same period last year. The value of goods decreased by 17.7% to € 51.9m. The downward trend that began 2017 has then continued.
Deliveries to Germany fell by more than 50% to 9,800 m³. However, Germany still the largest customer for Latvian plywood in the first quarter. Exports to Great Britain also fell significantly by 29.2% to 7,700 m³. In contrast, the export volume to Turkey increased by 32.4% to 9,800 m³ of plywood. In terms of volume, Turkey has thus taken second place between the most important sales markets.
Plywood imports increased again in the first quarter by 28.5% to 34,900 cubic meters. The import value even increased by 47.2% to €15.4 million. From Russia, by far the largest supplier country, around 28,400 m³ of plywood was imported into Latvia with an increase of 27%.
