Whether measured by value or by volume, Australia’s main wood products imports increased significantly in 2025-26, a year when demand was unremarkable.
The value of Australia’s wood product imports lifted 10.8% in 2025-26, with imports totalling $1.941 billion. The $189 million increase, measured free-on-board, was driven by increased import values for almost all products. Notably, some input materials (eg. veneers) have been excluded from this analysis, meaning the value of Australia’s total imports was significantly higher.
While the value of annual imports has been higher in earlier years – as the chart below shows – there is a difference to 2025-26. Several of the largest value increases occurred at significantly lower average prices, meaning import volumes rose even more significantly.
The chart groups products by main types, but the table below it shows all the major products.
Australian Imports of Wood Products by Value: FY22 – FY26 (AUDM)
Source: ABS and IndustryEdge
Australian Wood Product Imports by Main Grade: FY22 – FY26 (AUDM)
Source: ABS and IndustryEdge
^ Prior to 2022, Builders Joinery included CLT, GLT, I-Beams and LVL
In 2021-22, the value of Australia’s like-for-like imports exploded, lifting an incredible 51%, fuelled by a huge spike in demand as the nation struggled to build over-stimulated housing demand. That $2.1 billion record was almost matched the next year, when imports were valued at just below $2.0 billion. The most recent year’s result was only a little south of the record years.
However, there is one very big difference: 2025-26 saw no major increase in demand, with only a modest lift in housing approvals. The value of imports rose markedly faster than the market itself.
Import volumes lifted as prices declined for key imports
As the table below shows, some products also recorded very large increases in import volumes.
We’ll focus on three products: laminated veneer lumber (LVL), plywood and medium density-fibreboard (MDF). The reason we have selected these products is because in 2025-26, all three recorded very large volume increases. Note that the peaks for volumes and values are recorded in red and the low-point for prices is recorded with yellow highlights.
Selected Wood Product Import Volume, Value and Price Dynamics: FY22 – FY26
Source: ABS and IndustryEdge
^ Prior to 2022, LVL was included in Builders Joinery and was not separately identifiable
The data shows that for all three products, imports rose very sharply, either to record or near record levels in 2025-26. Moreover, total import values (measured Fob) were also at or near record levels. In all three cases, weighted average import prices for the year were at their lowest point of the last five years.
Imports do not increase without context. The domestic context has changed little: relatively flat housing starts, a soft economy and increased competition from light-weight steel framing.
The global context is however the ‘go to’ rationale for these latest import increases: trade wars, asymmetric, unpredictable and energy-sapping tariffs, China’s economic contractions in both construction and general manufacturing, unpredictability in global shipping and other factors have all changed global trade dynamics.
Regardless of the context, it is the nature of the response that will matter most.
