The number of timber construction companies increased by 30% in the last two years, according to a survey conducted by the NGO Hout Info Bois which was presented in Brussels on Thursday. Between January 2013 and December 2014, 145 companies firms built timber constructions, a figure which represents 29.66% more than in the 2011-2012 2-year period. Production seems somewhat irregular, however, since the study shows that 60% of the 145 companies each built fewer than 10 houses a year, only 10% of the 145 produced more than 50 a year.
From a regional perspective, the majority of timber construction companies (73%) are to be found in Wallonia. Flemish companies are the most active, 13 companies based in the south building on average 34 units a year. The number of timber buildings has been relatively stable in Belgium since 2011, with some 2,000 being manufactured each year, which represents 8% of all new buildings.
The Construction Confederation estimates that the timber industry employs 30,000 people in Belgium.
(Source: Belga)