UK softwood market drifts as weak demand meets rising costs

As the softwood trade entered the second quarter, economic conditions in the UK remained uncertain, leaving traders without a clear direction and forcing a short-term approach to sales. With no consistent demand pattern, activity has been driven largely by day-to-day opportunities rather than forward planning. Volumes continue to fluctuate, and visibility remains limited across key end-use sectors, particularly construction. Demand has been unreliable and uneven, prompting UK stockists to keep inventories under tight control. Many merchants are relying on landed stocks to maintain specifications, working on short replenishment cycles instead of building forward positions ...