profile
Simon Woods
Simon joins the BMBI Expert panel with almost 24 years’ experience of working in the construction products sector and with builders’ merchants. His previous roles include 10 years with the leading adhesives brand Bostik, five years in the bathroom sector working with Twyford & Methan, and five years with roofing manufacturer Icopal.
West Fraser Europe Limited
West Fraser the UK’s number one engineered wood panel manufacturer serving DIY, housebuilding and construction markets. Its extensive panel range, which has now been certified as net carbon negative, includes FSC certified flooring, panelling and roofing products, with well known brands such as SterlingOSB Zero, CaberFloor and CaberWood MDF commonly specified by architects, national housebuilders and specifiers. West Fraser’s European manufacturing operations span three UK plants: Cowie and Inverness in Scotland; and South Molton in Devon as well as Genk, in Belgium
In February 2021 Norbord joined the West Fraser organisation – an international organisation specialising in diversified wood products with more than 60 facilities in Canada, the United States and Europe. From responsibly-sourced and sustainably-managed forest resources, West Fraser produces lumber, engineered wood (OSB, LVL, MDF, plywood, particleboard), and other products including pulp, newsprint, wood chips and renewable energy. Its products are used in construction, repair and remodelling, industrial applications, papers, tissue and box materials.
Visit: www.uk.westfraser.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/norbord-europe-ltd/
Twitter: @WestFraserUK
Launched in 2015, the award winning monthly Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report is the only reliable measure of repair, maintenance & improvement (RMI) activity in the UK. Filling an important gap, it can be widely used in construction, and by economists, Government, national media, commentators and influencers outside the industry.
West Fraser Comment: Q3 2024
As we navigate the evolving dynamics of the sector, while considering our budgets and plans for 2025 and beyond, the Government seems to be focussed on soundbites….300,000 houses a year is one that sticks in my mind.
In Wood Based Products, we have the sustainability story on our side which, from a ‘big picture’ perspective, should give us some comfort that the future is improving in our direction. However, we are at a junction where global market pressures, shifting economic landscapes, and policy decisions converge to test our resilience and adaptability.
What will happen to the imports of our key products? Chinese Plywood, for instance, looks likely to attract significant duty at some point soon to assist with Anti-Dumping. EUDR regulations to tackle deforestation and forest degradation in commodity supply chains will certainly reduce imports from some regions. But it looks like implementation has been delayed by the European Parliament for a year, to allow the process administration to be adopted fairly. All hurdles to be jumped!
The UK will most likely see a recovery of new house build activity – yet not to the volumes the new Government are stating. A 10% growth would be the best position we could hope for in 2025 and considering the 2024 low base, that won’t consume the production of manufacturers nor fill the vehicles of builders’ and timber merchants. Most of the domestic growth (if any) will come from the Repair, Maintenance & Improvement (RMI) sector. As we see the interest rate drop, along with inflation, then consumer confidence will improve and some of the accumulated higher savings will be released. With homeowners increasingly investing in upgrades and sustainability-focused retrofitting, businesses positioned to support this shift will find significant opportunities.
The US has seen some improvement in recent weeks, in the supply/demand balance of both wood-based panels and sawn timber – let’s see what happens as the Trump Presidency gets closer, and we see what initiatives he will bring.