France’s sawmill market in an atmosphere of tension and worry

2023 was a year of two halves with a first half continuing the trends from 2022 then a complicated second half with a sharp decline in the French sawmill market. During the 2020-2022 period, France's sawmills benefited from a relocation of supplies and a rebound in activity. The fear of supply disruptions was present. Activity at sawmills fell in the first quarter 2023 from 120% to 90%, the signal of slowdown given by the market causing an inventory adjustment. Import purchases exceeding demand at the end of 2022 and beginning of 2023 are also at ...