More than 200 delegates from 23 countries attended the European Panel Federation (PEF) and the European Federation of the Plywood Industry (FEIC) annual general meetings in Latvia in June.
EPF president Ladislaus Döry presented a report on the past year on particleboard, MDF and OSB. He said that within the EPF member countries, which account for about 90% of total European output, particleboard production amounted to 34.3 million m3 in 2004. Mr Döry said this was a new record – up 5.2% on 2003.
Particleboard consumption rose 5.8% to 31.1 million m3 in EPF member countries, with further growth predicted.
MDF production increased 5.7% to a record 11.9 million m3, while demand rose 10.1% to 11.4 million m3.
OSB production grew to 2.8 million m3 (+14%) – and consumption to a record 2.4 million m3 (+15%) with North America accounting for 14% of all sales in 2004.
Nicola Reni, outgoing president of FEIC, welcomed new members from countries such as Lithuania, Estonia and Russia.
He said within FEIC member countries, plywood production rose in 2004 to a new record of 3.8 million m3, and consumption rose 0.9% to 4.1 million m3.
Blockboard production fell 4.4% on 2004 to 256,000m3.
Mr Reni said some European plywood producers faced going out of business because of unfair competition from China, adding that despite the introduction of anti-dumping measures Chinese imports had increased. The FEIC is working closely with EC anti-fraud agencies on the issue.
