Spanish softwood lumber imports increased by 16% to 253,038m³ in the first three months of 2010 vis à vis the same period last year according to the Spanish Association of Timber Importers. This growth, however, is to be seen in connection with the very low compara-tive value of 218,888m³. In the first quarter of 2009 imports dropped by 60% as compared with the same period on 2008.