Why more pine in structural timber?

At the TRA’s recent AGM, members raised important questions about the growing volume of Pine (European Redwood) in structural timber supplies. This follows noticeable shifts in the European timber market, with more Pine replacing the traditionally preferred Spruce (European Whitewood). As promised, we’ve reviewed the facts and are providing this clear and practical update, tailored specifically for our fabricator members.

What’s changing and why?

Construction timber in the UK is predominantly coniferous, with UK-grown timber accounting for around 35% of our general construction needs and 65% coming from imports, mainly from Northern and Central Europe. For TR26 material, however, the UK relies entirely on imports.

Historically, both Spruce and Pine have been used for structural applications, and in older trussed rafters and joists, it’s common to see timber labelled ER/EW (European Redwood/Whitewood), reflecting this mixed-species approach.

In recent years, UK buyers and merchants have leaned towards Spruce for its smoother surface and more uniform visual appearance. Timber suppliers responded to this preference, as Spruce logs were widely available across Europe.

However, this availability is now changing due to the following:

• Widespread bark beetle infestations are significantly impacting Spruce forests.
• Sanctions against Russian timber have restricted traditional supply routes.
• Low timber prices have discouraged forest owners from bringing logs to market.
• Climate change and evolving forestry policies are prioritising reforestation and biodiversity over commercial harvesting.

This has resulted in log shortages and sawmills temporarily closing some production lines , with mills shifting more heavily toward Pine logs to maintain output.

What does this mean for TRA members?

It’s essential to emphasise that there is no compromise on structural performance.

Whether timber is Spruce or Pine, it must meet strict strength grading requirements. For our industry, this means timber is graded to:

• TR26 for trussed rafters
• C16 and C24 for general structural use

Most of this structural timber, in particular TR26, is machine strength graded, not visually assessed. That means each piece must meet the strength class marked on it, regardless of how it looks.

Pine may feature more prominent knots and, in some cases, blue stain. While the stain may be unfamiliar in the UK, scientific evidence confirms it does not affect structural integrity, and its presence is fully permitted under strength grading rules.

Increasing the proportion of Pine also adds resilience to supply chains, helping balance out disruptions caused by shortages in Spruce.

What to expect in the short and medium term

While suppliers  do not expect major volume shortages of construction timber overall, fabricators should be prepared for:

• A narrower range of available lengths and dimensions, as sawmills adjust production lines to account for reducing volume of Spruce logs.
• Increasing proportion  of Pine (European Redwood)  structural timber packs within the specifications being offered by suppliers.

In the medium term, greater demand  is expected to incentivise greater log harvesting, gradually improving supply balance. But due to the scale of forest loss from bark beetle damage and long replanting cycles, a higher proportion of Pine in the timber mix is likely to remain the norm for the foreseeable future.

Supporting members

To support members in understanding and adapting to these changes, the TRA will be hosting a lunchtime webinar on Friday 9^th May , bringing together timber suppliers and trussed rafter fabricators. This will be a chance to:

• Share experiences and ask questions directly to suppliers
• Hear how others are managing specification changes
• Gain confidence in the continued reliability of TR26

We will circulate sign-up details shortly and encourage all members to take part.

If you have further questions or would like to contribute to the upcoming webinar, please get in touch with the TRA team – info@tra.org.uk.