A new study by market information provider RISI said additional OSB capacity in the US will come from mills being re-opened, the expansion of current sites and from new mills. It said 4.5 billion ft2 in additional capacity is expected to come on line next year.
"Since the collapse of the US housing market a significant amount of OSB capacity has been idled. The recent recovery is now driving up demand both cyclically and seasonally. As capacity is added additional woodfibre will be needed," said senior economist for wood products David Fortin.
"The US pellet export market is developing at the same time that OSB production is ratcheting up and will have implications for woodfibre demand and ultimately prices."
A similar warning of wood supplies was put forward by the panel industry in the UK as government considered support tariffs for biomass power stations.
The UK biomass industry turned to imports from the US and Canada. The largest plant at Drax in Selby has signed a supply deal to import 90% of its requirements from North America.
Exports of wood pellets to the EU is set to rise 12% this year, almost trebling imports to around 17 million tonnes in eight years. The UK remains by far the biggest customer at 4.45 million tonnes, according to US government figures.
