The depletion of the duty-free quota governing softwood plywood imports into the EU has largely returned to normal in recent weeks after being used up quickly during January. Some 336,003 m³ or 52% of the total of 650,000 m³ had been utilised by 12 March. About 232,811 m³ of softwood plywood had been imported duty-free into the EU by 30 January, much more than in years past. A good 210,000 m³ had been imported into the EU duty-free in January 2011; just 180,000 m³ of the quota had been used in January 2012 and 186,000 m³ in January 2013. The trend headed in the opposite direction in February, with the amount imported duty-free being lower than the average recorded in years past at about 70,000 m³.