Timber shortage due to 'unprecedented' post-lockdown demand By Claire Marshall Published image captionArchitecture student Mersei Mongaba works on a modular house made from sustainable Finnish larch, which has doubled in cost The price of timber has risen sharply with builders struggling to get supplies, as post-lockdown construction and DIY projects create huge demand. The Timber Trade Federation (TTF) said suppliers were "working around the clock" but are "struggling to keep up". Climate change is also increasing the pressure on supply with more wildfires and pests that kill trees. The UK imports around 80% of its timber and many are calling for the UK's forestry industry to be nurtured.