European demand for Brazilian elliotis pine plywood has been rather subdued in the past few weeks after a lively start to the year. Demand has slowed even though companies in the Benelux region and Scandinavia, in particular, have placed orders to make up a shortfall of radiata pine plywood deliveries after a fire at the Nueva Aldea plywood mill run by Paneles Arauco. A number of agents and importers report that the German market, in particular, is not ordering as much as last year. Other markets, such as France, Italy and the UK, are exceeding expectations. Buyers in France and Italy had recently mainly ordered 12mm plywood. Cooler demand from Europe than last year on the whole is also being reflected in the slower depletion of the duty-free quota.