SCOTLAND is to begin timber exports to France for the first time this week as part of a ||EURO||1.5 million (£1.3m) contract won by an Irish firm.

The first shipment of wood for the French housing industry left Youghal, in County Cork, yesterday , with a second ship set to sail from Troon, in Ayrshire, later this week.

Irish timber group Glennon Brothers will use its facilities in Scotland tADVERTISEMENTo help fulfil the order for five boatloads of wood. Glennon bought Windymains Timber, based at Humbie, near Edinburgh, in 2005, and took over Troon-based Alexanders Timber Design in 2008.

The company said that the order had been placed to make up for shortfalls in supplies coming from Scandinavia, France's traditional source of timber.

Joint managing director Mike Glennon said: "Through our strong industry connections and our reputation as a quality timber provider, we secured this ground-breaking deal to supply an initial five shipments from our bases across Ireland and Scotland.

"Traditionally home grown timber has only been supplied into the Irish and UK markets. We are proud that our products satisfy the needs of European countries demanding high quality."

Scottish environment minister Roseanna Cunningham added: "I'm delighted to see these shipments of Scottish sawn timber from the port of Troon to this new market in France.

"It demonstrates that Scotland produces a quality product which is very much in demand and shows that our modern forest industry is continuing to thrive despite the economic downturn."