Vietnam Rubber Group (VRG) ordered a complete MDF plant including a high-end 4' ContiRoll® press from Siempelkamp in April 2014. The customer will manufacture high-quality MDF economically with the 33.3 m long press line of the latest generation, as Siempelkamp informs in a press release.
The laying of the foundation stone in the Thanh Loc industrial park in the Chau Thanh district of the Kien Giang province represented the start of construction for VRG's greenfield plant. The installation of the Siempelkamp components is scheduled for March 2015.
The order from VRG included the complete Siempelkamp scope of products in the area of wood-based material production plants. Siempelkamp will supply all plant components from the debarking machine to the stacking line for the finished boards. The heart of the plant is Siempelkamp's proven 4’ x 33.3 m continuous ContiRoll® press.
Together with its Korean joint venture partner Dongwha, the VRG Group successfully operates a large Siempelkamp MDF plant with a daily capacity of 1,200 cubic metres.
Siempelkamp's 4' press combines all the features of the larger presses. The flexible infeed head, in particular, makes it possible to also produce thin MDF. Additional advantages include: unsurpassed reliability, low thickness tolerances and quick startups with stable ramp-up curves.
It will be the 18th 4' plant which Siempelkamp will build in Asia. This press will manufacture high-quality wood-based boards with the economical use of re-sources. With the new MDF line, VRG will manufacture boards with a thickness between 2.5 and 30 mm in the popular Asian size 4' x 8'.
Article archive
European sawmills expand market presence in China
After a booming 2013, when European sawmills tripled their exports to China, it seems that the start of 2014 continues on the same pattern. Backed by an expanding Chinese housing market and a corresponding rising timber demand, the EU countries begin to make their presence felt in China, although at lower levels than the traditional Chinese trading partners. Even if Russia, Canada, US and more recently New Zealand are the major lumber suppliers for China, Europe has managed to make a successful breakthrough which is very promising for the upcoming years.
Conversely, China is now EU's eleventh worldwide softwood lumber destination, being close to a share of almost 3% in the first four months of 2014.
According to the latest Eurostat figures, through April 2014, EU softwood lumber exports to China increased in value by 36% over the same period of 2013, to a total of nearly €90 million.
Finland, the main 2013 exporting country, slowed down its deliveries to China, with an increase of only 14%, leaving the lead to Sweden which accelerated exports by 51%. Germany managed to expand deliveries to China by 50%, up to almost EUR 20 million.
In terms of export share, Sweden tops with 35%, followed by Finland (29%) and Germany (22%). Altogether, the three countries account for 88% of all EU softwood lumber shipments to China.
The first three exporting countries (Sweden, Finland and Germany) have an overall share of 87% of all European softwood lumber exports to China.
Log prices down in Lithuania
The declining trend in Lithuanian roundwood prices which started in April continues in May, though prices for almost all assortments are well above last year. Sawlog are cheaper over April by between € 0,58- € 1,45 per cubic meter, with only one exception, alder, which has gained a small price increase.
On the other hand, on a yearly basis in May almost all roundwood prices in Lithuania are higher, apart from alder sawlogs (-5.41%) and birch pulpwood (0%). Pine and spruce sawlogs are more expensive by 10,78% and 16,59%, meanwhile pine and spruce pulpwood prices have increased somewhere close to 20%.
Roadside prices of roundwood in state forests of Lithuania EUR/m³ under bark |
May 2013 | April 2014 | May 2014 | Change May/2013 to May/2014 |
| SAWLOGS | ||||
| Pine | 59,08 | 66,90 | 65,45 | 10.78% |
| Spruce | 61,11 | 72,69 | 71,25 | 16.59% |
| Birch | 61,69 | 64,30 | 63,14 | 2.35% |
| Alder | 53,58 | 50,10 | 50,68 | -5.41% |
| Small-sized softwood | 48,37 | 52,71 | 51,84 | 7.17% |
| PULPWOOD | ||||
| Pine | 26,07 | 33,02 | 32,15 | 23.32% |
| Spruce | 27,51 | 33,02 | 32,73 | 18,97% |
| Birch | 29,83 | 30,12 | 29,83 | 0% |
The above prices are collected from metla.fi. Prices are converted from Lituanian Litas (LTL) to Euro for each specific month at ECB conversion rates.
Sales down 5.4% for Stora Enso
Stora Enso’s 2Q 2014 sales at Euro 2.58 billion were Euro 147 million lower than a year ago partly due to structural changes in Printing and Reading. Operational EBIT at Euro 209 million was Euro 85 million higher than a year ago due to the successful fixed cost reduction programme clearly exceeding the target and lower variable costs. The operational EBIT margin in 2Q was 8.1%, as the company said in a press release.
Slightly higher sales prices in local currencies, mainly in Renewable Packaging, increased operational EBIT by Euro 12 million. Lower volumes, mainly due to paper machine closures, decreased operational EBIT by Euro 16 million. Paper and board production was curtailed by 8% (9%) to manage inventories.
Variable costs decreased by Euro 34 million due to good operational efficiency and lower energy prices. Completion of the streamlining and structure simplification programme reduced fixed costs by Euro 37 million. Depreciation was Euro 20 million lower, mainly due to fixed asset impairments recorded in the 4Q 2013.
Jouko Karvinen, Stora Enso CEO commented “2Q came out at the high end of our expectations, essentially driven by the better than expected performance of Renewable Packaging and by the Company’s 22% overachievement of the Euro 200 million annual structural cost reduction target. Those achievements combined with the significant improvements in earnings in Printing and Reading and in Building and Living are yet another proof point of the resilience and fighting spirit of the Stora Enso people.”
In 3Q 2014 sales are forecast to be roughly similar to the Euro 2 579 million and operational EBIT similar to or slightly lower than the strong Euro 209 million in the second quarter of 2014. All segments are scheduled to have maintenance shutdowns during the 3Q. The maintenance impact in the 3Q 2014 is expected to be approximately Euro 30 million higher than in the 2Q.
Austria: Wood pellets price under last year
The July 2014 price survey conducted by proPellets Austria resulted in an average price of €24,24 Cent per kg of wood pellets (for 6 tonnes purchases). As compared to the previous month wood pellets are slightly more expensive (+0.3%), meanwhile as compared to July 2013, the price is lower by -3.9%.
In June, wood pellets in bags cost an average of €4,00 per 15 kg sack (when ordered by the pallet). This represents a -1.8% decrease over June 2013, and -0.2% as compared to June 2014.
North American log exports to Asia strong
North America continues to supply China, Japan and other Asian countries with logs for their forest products sectors. Log exports from the US and Canada in the 1Q/14 were up 14% from last year, with shipments from the US South having increased the most.
North American log exports to Asia over the past several years have boosted profitability for timberland owners while challenging the domestic solid wood sector mainly in northwestern US and Coastal British Columbia. In the 1Q/14, the North American export volume was 14% higher than in the 1Q/13 and 30% more than the same quarter in 2012, as reported by the North American Wood Fiber Review (NAWFR).
Almost 53% of the overseas exports have been shipped from the US Northwest, while 41% was from British Columbia and the remaining share of shipments were split between Alaska, California and the US South.
There are nine ports that handle breakbulk log shipments along the US West Coast. The Port of Longview in Southwest Washington exports more logs than all the other eight ports combined, according to Jones Stevedoring.
In the past five quarters, each of the eight ports shipped an average of one vessel per month, while the Port at Longview loaded one vessel for Asia every three days. The major exporting companies at this location are Chugoku, Weyerhaeuser, Pacific Lumber & Shipping, Sojitz and TPT.
Coastal British Columbia is also a major supplier of logs to the Asian markets, with a majority of the timber originating from private timberlands on Vancouver Island. Over the past year, shipments have been approximately 1.5 million m3 per quarter, which is up from an average of 1.2 million m3 per quarter during 2011 and 2012.
Perhaps the most interesting development the past year has been the sharp increase in shipments of logs in containers from the US South. These exports have been mainly to China and India. Although the total volume is still relatively small as compared to the US West Coast export volumes, the US South share of total overseas exports from the US was over six percent during the first five months of this year as compared to only two percent for the same period in 2012.
Total shipments of southern yellow pine were up 130% for the period January through May this year compared to the same period last year, and volumes are already 70% more than they were for all of 2012. Combined with the first reported bulk shipload departing from the Port of Baton Rouge in May, we are likely to see increased exports of logs from the Southern states in the coming years.
Germany: Price of wood pellets still favourable
In Germany the price of wood pellets in July remains favourable. According to the German Energy Wood and Pellet Association (DEPV) the average price for a tonne of pellets stands at €248.63. That is 6 €-Cents less than last month and 8 percent less than in July 2013. Compared to heating oil, the price advantage of wood pellets is 35.6%.
In July, the price of wood pellets in Germany has some regional differences: in Central Germany pellets cost as in the previous month, meaning €244.50/t. In North-East Germany the average price is €247.26/t, while in South the price is €248.86/t.
Larger quantities (26 t) were traded on the following terms: North/East: €229.06/t, Center: €230.25/t, South: €233.76/t (all including VAT).
German sawmilling industry with high turnover
The German sawmilling industry posted a 14% rise in sales in the first quarter of 2014. Only in March sales increased by 16%. However, the German Sawmill and Timber Industry Association (DeSH) sees no sustainable development in these numbers, as DeSH thinks that the positive values are mainly due to the relatively favourable weather conditions.
'On a medium-term view the quarter turnover improvement is not a meaningful one, as it is the result of weather conditions, an early construction demand as well as restocking by processors and traders,' says Lars Schmidt, chief executive of DeSH.
According to the association, the precipitous foreign sales increase was largely led by margin-weaker discharge overseas markets like China. Here predominantly inexpensive roundwood assortments are on demand. Also only a few German companies have made substantial sales there. At the same time, another negative signal was the April decline in import prices for softwood lumber. Whether this trend is confirmed or reversed will become clear in the upcoming weeks.
The roundwood supply at the beginning of the year was satisfactory, says DeSH. The increased sawing activity in relation to the previous year, and weaker demand for pulpwood and sawmill by-products provided in the meantime lower sawing by-product revenues. The number of workers in the German sawmill industry remained constant at around 11,000.
The other forest industry sectors revenues were up in the first quarter of 2014. Especially the wooden packaging area shows an increase in sales of 15 percent; the other wooden products manufacturers are coming to plus 11 percent and the wood products industry to a growth of around 9 percent. Only the furniture industry remained at 2.5 percent below other wood sectors.
51% rise in EU softwood lumber exports to Egypt
In the first quarter of 2014, European Union countries expanded softwood lumber shipments to Egypt by 51% over the same quarter of 2013. In volume, Egypt has now become the second extra-EU destination for the European sawmills after Japan.
About 740 thousand cubic meters of sawn and planed lumber were delivered to Egypt in Q1/2014 at a value of €126 million (€50 million more than in Q1/2013).
Sweden is the first EU delivering country to Egypt, with 308 thousand cubic meters of softwood lumber exported in the first quarter (+55% more yoy) valued at €57 million.
Finnish sawmills shipped a volume 258 thousand cbm to Egypt, a quarter more than in 2013.
A marked increased can be noticed in German exports, which increased more than ten times over Q1/2013, while Romanian deliveries managed to double in the same period.
The boom in EU exports to Egypt seems to follow a new trend which started in 2014. While in 2012 and 2013, EU sawmills targeted their exports mostly to Asia (especially to Japan and China), with the European and North African markets being on a constant decrease, now this trend has been reversed. In the first quarter, intra-EU softwood lumber trade expanded by 15%; EU exports to North Africa surged by 25%, with deliveries to Asia decreasing by -3%.
North American lumber industry under menace by aboriginal land ruling
A ruling by the Supreme Court of Canada on aboriginal land could have a severe impact on North American lumber supply almost as the one caused by the mountain pine beetle, warns RBC Capital Markets quoted by Vancouver Sun.
The Canadian Court's unanimous decision back on June 26 related to a 30-year-plus land dispute between the Tsilhqot’in Nation and the British Columbia and Canadian governments, entitles the B.C. First Nation to dictate what logging and other activities take place on its newly recognized 1,700 square kilometres of land, according to RBC.
Now with an established precedent to title, the provincial/federal governments in Canada will have to consult, and gain the consent of the respective First Nation(s) when development projects/timber harvesting concern unceded land, RBC analyst Paul Quinn was quoted saying.
Quinn added that British Columbia has accounted for almost a quarter of all North American lumber production in the past 10 years, and if the Supreme Court ruling leads to delays and limitations in harvesting sawlogs in B.C., Quinn expects a tighter lumber market and higher prices.
Paul Quinn, quoted by Vancouver Sun, thinks that the consequence of this ruling could eventually have an impact equal to that of the mountain beetle epidemic which destroyed between 2000 and 2012 around 710 million cubic metres of commercially valuable pine timber, or 53 per cent of all such pine in the province.
The analyst noted that while 94 per cent of land in B.C. is currently classified as provincial Crown land, aboriginal title will eventually likely make up the majority.
Vancouver Sun says that with about 200 Indian Act Bands in British Columbia, many with overlapping claims, negotiations between industry/government and First Nations may prove lengthy. It will likely take more than a decade to understand the full impact of this SCC ruling on North American lumber production.
Quinn believes larger B.C. companies are most at risk since they have long-established tenure rights and, therefore, have required fewer First Nation partnerships to secure timber supply. He highlighted Conifex Timber Inc. (100 per cent of capacity in B.C.), Western Forest Products Inc. (100 per cent), Canfor Corp. (73 per cent), West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. (40 per cent) and Interfor Corp. (40 per cent) as companies with significant lumber capacity mix in the province.
Greenpeace reacts to timber shipment in France
At the end of June, Greenpeace activists took action against the Safmarine Sahara, a cargo ship entering the port of La Rochelle, France and painted on the side of the ship "Illegal Timber" in French.
Greenpeace claims that the ship was loaded with timber sourced from companies with links to illegal logging operations in the DRC.
Greenpeace says that the action is exposing France’s role in fuelling the destruction of the DRC rainforest by buying timber illegally logged in the region.
Greenpeace is urging the owners of the shipment to reject timber from illegal loggers until they can prove that the timber comes from legal sources. Greenpeace is also calling on the French government to tackle illegal logging and improve forest governance and law enforcement.
Global softwood lumber production forecast to increase 24% by 2020
Global softwood lumber production bottomed out in 2009 at 264 million m3, climbed in 2010 to 288 million m3, and in 2012 expanded to 306 million m3, according to the latest Wood Markets Monthly International report.
In comparing 2010 with the base-case forecast for 2020, the production of global softwood lumber is expected to rise by 24% (2.4% per year), with a volume increase of some 70 million m3. Note that the annual increase over ten years of 2.4% per year is higher than that of global softwood timber harvests (2.0% per year).
Based on the timber harvest forecast, says the report, the U.S. will have the largest lumber production increase by far: it is forecast to jump by 55% (5.5% per year) by producing an incremental 24 million m3 (15 billion bf nominal) between 2010 and 2020. The next largest ten-year volume increases are expected from two major regions, with both regions expected to produce an incremental 14 million m3 over the ten-year period: the top 10 European countries (+18%); and China (+40%).
According to Wood Markets, China’s increase in lumber production can be achieved only through the importation of logs, as its domestic softwood timber harvest is forecast to have no incremental potential. Russia is expected to gain just 7.5 million m3 of output (+30%) and export fewer logs; in addition, both Russian - and Chinese-owned sawmills are projected to increase capacity in Russia.
All other countries or regions, including Canada, will see limited increases in output; Canada is expected to see its production peak by mid-decade and then decline, for an increase of only 5 million m3 between 2010 and 2020, says Wood Markets.
Despite huge timber harvest increases, the four Southern Hemisphere countries (excluding South Africa, as it is just outside the top 20) are forecast to increase their output by 5 million m3 (+20%). Only one country in the top 20 - Japan - is projected to see lower lumber production by 2020. Its sawmill industry has been in steady decline, and the bulk of its production is from imported logs.
Source: International Wood Markets Group
Unilin seeks chipboard expansion
Following the takeover of SpanoGroup, with its chipboard activities in Oostrozebeke (Belgium), Unilin is now advancing its expansion in the chipboard industry in West Flanders.
Therefore, in the coming months, the Unilin Group is investing more than €40 million in two of the Panels division’s three chipboard-producing facilities, this in order to cut production costs. Production in one of the Panels division plants in Wielsbeke will gradually be dismantled whereas the production rate in the two remaining facilities (Wielsbeke and Oostro zebeke) will be stepped up accordingly. The total production capacity will remain unchanged.
UNILIN Panels belongs to the UNILIN Group, a full subsidiary of the listed American company MOHAWK Industries Inc.
Kronospan begins construction of particleboard plant in Russia
Kronospan has started construction of the particleboard plant located in Ufa, Bashkortostan region, Russia. Last year, construction was suspended by the Russian authorities after several protests held by the local residents, who were afraid that the Kronospan plant will severely harm the environment.
The new particleboard plant in Ufa will be built on a site with
an area of 200 thousand square meters. Kronospan is investing €195 million in the plant and the annual production is supposed to reach around 500,000 m3. Production is scheduled to start in April 2015.
Sweden: New partnership seeks to convert forestry biomass into bio-based plastic products
In Sweden, SEKAB, Sveaskog, Holmen, Södra, Borealis, Trioplast, Tetra Pak and SP Processum have formed a partnership to explore locally brown plastics that includes the entire manufacturing chain for biobased plastics – from the forest industry to packaging producers.
The initiative puts together a value chain of Swedish companies starting from forest owners, pulp and paper producers, chemical industry and the converters producing the plastic packaging material. The project will create a transfer of knowledge, where the company’s skills within technology and business will help to examine a value chain with the bi-products from the forest as raw materials.
Most of the plastics are today made from oil. In order to manage the transition to a sustainable society, the partnership seeks the possibilities for producing plastics from alternative raw materials, like biomass. The project locally grown plastics examine the feasibility of building a European industry, where the forestry biomass is collected and converted into bio-based plastic products, such as supermarket carrier bags or caps for Tetra Pak’s milk cartons. The majority of bio-based plastics are produced in Brazil, but no production of bio-polyethylene with forest origin exists today in the world.
”Locally grown plastics are an important step in the transition to a bio-based economy. The project can help to realize the potential of the bio-based industry” says Ylwa Alwarsdotter, Executive Vice President Market Development at SEKAB.
"There is a great interest in using biomass for chemicals and ethanol production in Southeast Asia, China and America mostly focusing on agriculture residues, so this is why it’s very interesting to now evaluate a value chain with forestry based biomass," says Thore Lindgren, Executive Vice President of SEKAB E-Technology AB.
The overall goal of the project is to evaluate the possibility of realizing a value chain from forest-based biomass to polyethylene.
Swedish lumber exports trend back to Europe
In the first quarter of 2014, Swedish sawmills exported about 3 million cubic meters of sawn and planed lumber, 8.9% more than in the same quarter of last year. If in 2013 Sweden's exports have expanded to Asia, especially to Japan and China, and stagnated or decreased to Europe and Africa, a reversed trend can be noticed in the first quarter of 2014: shipments to fellow European countries in particular, and those to Africa are now driving up Swedish lumber deliveries.
Nearly two-thirds of the total amount has been delivered to European countries, with a quarterly rise of almost 12%. The driving force behind this development is unmistakably the UK. The country is already the main buyer of Swedish softwood lumber and has increased its imports by 19% in the first quarter. Denmark and the Netherlands, two other major European consumer countries, have also increased their imports significantly. Germany is currently the third largest purchaser of Swedish lumber, with a 3.3% yoy rise.
Swedish exports to Africa are also trending upwards (+17%), with Egypt leading as the main buyer. Egypt is now the second worldwide purchase country of Swedish lumber, overtaking Germany and Norway in the first quarter of this year. The other two major African customer countries are Algeria and Morocco, though with a quarterly decline in imports by 11%, and 14% respectively.
The Asian market has in contrast to Europe and Africa shrank in the first quarter. Exports were lower by almost 2%. The main cause is the declining Japanese market, with less imports by 11.6% on a yearly basis. Also exports to Saudi Arabia dropped by over 20% as compared to the first quarter of 2013. These two negative developments could not absorb very well the rapid growth in China.
Largest wood pellet plant in Europe ceases activity due to overproduction
According to Whatwood (WW), Vyborg Timber Corporation (VLK) will temporary suspend wood pellets manufacturing as a cause of overproduction, the chief power engineer of VLK Dmitry Kan announced at the conference held by Infobio agency in St. Petersburg.
The plant is the largest in Europe and has an annual output of up to 900,000 tonnes of pellets. The plant silos are full of non-demanded pellets, Kan was quoted saying.
According to experts, WW informs, 'European buyers now impose new and tough requirements on certification of biofuels; they are also aware to conclude long-term contracts on deliveries of Russian pellets because of the possibility of aggravation of the political situation and sanctions against Russian industry in connection with the Ukrainian crisis'.
However, as WW says quoting Infobio, Vyborg LK has other problems to solve, as many analysts agree that the company stopped production due to raw material shortage.
Slowing in UK's wood pellet imports
After they have more than doubled last year, UK's imports of wood pellets have slowed down in the first quarter of 2014. As compared to the 1Q/2013, UK's pellet purchases have increased only by 4% in value, and by 13% in quantity. In terms of shares, the US is leading as UK's main wood pellet supplier with a 61% share, followed by Canada (22%) and Portugal (9%).
The main reason for the first quarter slowdown is the closure of RWE-Innogy power plant at Tilbury, which had an annual pellet consumption of 1,3 million tons, almost one third of the total UK consumption. However, the other major consumer, Drax, can compensate this loss in the upcoming period with its coal-biomass conversion plans: the company successfully converted one unit of its power plant and aims to become a predominantly biomass generator by 2016.
Drax has four coal units in the UK, which are under a biomass conversion process. The first one was successfully converted back in April 2013, and now delivers 600 MW of energy. Drax hopes that in the third quarter of 2015 the second unit will run fully on biomass and the third by the end of 2016. Also plans for the fourth unit conversion are advancing.
However, such a large-scale conversion plan needs extra-capacity. Thus, Dorothy Thompson, CEO of Drax, announced in March that the company seeks options to develop an additional pellet capacity up to 2 million metric tons, mainly in the US, but UK pellet facilities are also taken under consideration.
With Drax's biomass conversion UK's imports of wood pellets are projected to massively grow in the next years, especially from the US, where European companies are investing in wood pellet plants to meet the renewable energy targets set by the European authorities.
| TOP Origins Wood pellets imported by UK (in value) |
I-III 2013 | I-III 2014 | Change in % |
| USA | 57,132,750 | 59,210,000 | 4% |
| Canada | 27,072,730 | 22,602,410 | -17% |
| Portugal | 921,350 | 8,318,180 | % |
| Latvia | 3,754,600 | 2,975,910 | -21% |
| Total | 90,326,880 | 93,817,610 | 4% |
Statistics source: Eurostat; HS Codes: 440131,44013020
| TOP Origins Wood pellets imported by UK (in tons) |
I-III 2013 | I-III 2014 | Change in % |
| USA | 422,120 | 456,243 | 8% |
| Canada | 186,395 | 193,378 | 4% |
| Portugal | 3,225 | 65,995 | % |
| Latvia | 32,099 | 19,746 | -38% |
| Total | 652,455 | 737,457 | 13% |
Statistics source: Eurostat; HS Codes: 440131,44013020
Slowing in UK’s wood pellet imports
After they have more than doubled last year, UK's imports of wood pellets have slowed down in the first quarter of 2014. As compared to the 1Q/2013, UK's pellet purchases have increased only by 4% in value, and by 13% in quantity. In terms of shares, the US is leading as UK's main wood pellet supplier with a 61% share, followed by Canada (22%) and Portugal (9%).
The main reason for the first quarter slowdown is the closure of RWE-Innogy power plant at Tilbury, which had an annual pellet consumption of 1,3 million tons, almost one third of the total UK consumption. However, the other major consumer, Drax, can compensate this loss in the upcoming period with its coal-biomass conversion plans: the company successfully converted one unit of its power plant and aims to become a predominantly biomass generator by 2016.
Drax has four coal units in the UK, which are under a biomass conversion process. The first one was successfully converted back in April 2013, and now delivers 600 MW of energy. Drax hopes that in the third quarter of 2015 the second unit will run fully on biomass and the third by the end of 2016. Also plans for the fourth unit conversion are advancing.
However, such a large-scale conversion plan needs extra-capacity. Thus, Dorothy Thompson, CEO of Drax, announced in March that the company seeks options to develop an additional pellet capacity up to 2 million metric tons, mainly in the US, but UK pellet facilities are also taken under consideration.
With Drax's biomass conversion UK's imports of wood pellets are projected to massively grow in the next years, especially from the US, where European companies are investing in wood pellet plants to meet the renewable energy targets set by the European authorities.
| TOP Origins
Wood pellets imported by UK (in value) |
I-III 2013 | I-III 2014 | Change in % |
| USA | 57,132,750 | 59,210,000 | 4% |
| Canada | 27,072,730 | 22,602,410 | -17% |
| Portugal | 921,350 | 8,318,180 | % |
| Latvia | 3,754,600 | 2,975,910 | -21% |
| Total | 90,326,880 | 93,817,610 | 4% |
Statistics source: Eurostat; HS Codes: 440131,44013020
| TOP Origins
Wood pellets imported by UK (in tons) |
I-III 2013 | I-III 2014 | Change in % |
| USA | 422,120 | 456,243 | 8% |
| Canada | 186,395 | 193,378 | 4% |
| Portugal | 3,225 | 65,995 | % |
| Latvia | 32,099 | 19,746 | -38% |
| Total | 652,455 | 737,457 | 13% |
Statistics source: Eurostat; HS Codes: 440131,44013020
Wood-based panel capacity falls in North America
The capacity of the North American wood-based panel manufacturers has declined from January 2013 to January 2014 by 4.4%, Woodworking Network reports compyling data of the Composite Panel Association (CPA). Therefore the total capacity of the industry currently stands at 8,532 million sqft. ¾. Last year the capacity was 8.922 million sqft. ¾ . This represents a decrease of 390 million sqft or 690,000 cbm. The largest decrease was recorded in the chipboard field.
According CPA information, the capacity of the North American particleboard plants in January 2014 was 5.219 million sqft. As compared to January 2013 there is a 371 million sqft or 6.6% decline. The MDF capacity in January 2014 was 2,702 million sqft, which means a 19 million sqft or a 0.7% decline within a year. The HDF capacity remained constant at 3,668 million sqft. ⅛ .
The CPA provides an overview of the North American wood-based panel industry in their newly released "2014 North American Capacity Report". It contains the individual capacity of each chipboard, MDF and HDF plant in North America. The CPA members represent 92.3% of the total active capacity in North America.
