Global production of particleboard is forecast to increase to 84.1million m3 in 2013, from 69.9 million m3 in 2009, based on current expansion plans and estimated capacity utilisation rates, according to Australian economic forecaster and industry analyst, BIS Shrapnel.
BIS Shrapnel’s ‘Particleboard in the Pacific Rim and Europe, 2009 – 2013 report’, released in April, found production of particleboard in Asia has grown rapidly over the past decade, but that greater Europe, including Russia and Turkey, remains the dominant producing region.
Strong growth in the key end-use sectors – housing construction and furniture manufacturing – are driving particleboard production increases; similar findings came out of BIS Shrapnel’s companion report, ‘Medium Density Fibreboard in the Pacific Rim and Europe’, also released in April.
The expected upswing in US housing construction from 2010 to 2013 will drive economic growth not only in the US, but also in many of its key trading partners around the world. It will also drive renewed demand for furniture, and ultimately for particleboard and MDF, the report notes.
