Aug 29, 2008. /Lesprom.com/. UK imports of Canadian softwood more than halved to 81,595 cubic metres during the first six months of 2008 compared with a year ago, according to figures from the Council of Forest Industries. The only species to buck the trend was western red cedar which, at 20,114 cubic metres (18,326 cubic metres in 2007), made up a quarter of all Canadian softwood being imported. The total volume of exports for the same period in 2007 was 193,843 cubic metres, The Timber Industry Magazine reported. All Canadian exporting provinces saw declines in their shipments to the UK, with British Columbia holding its share the best at 62,695 cubic metres. Québec's volumes to the UK dropped to 10,935 cubic metres from 80,608 cubic metres a year ago. Ontario was the only province to increase its shipments but this was from a very low base (to 618 cubic metres from 262 cubic metres). A total of 48,036 cubic metres of the main SPF product was shipped during the period, while hemfir products halved to 5,491 cubic metres, Douglas fir/larch dropped to 2,848 cubic metres from 4,127 cubic metres and white pine reduced to 2,317 cubic metres from 4,915 cubic metres.