Europe is the largest regional market in terms of consumption, with an estimated share of 32.2% in 2007, while China represents the fastest growing market, said GIA. Global consumption of particleboard (including OSB) totalled an estimated 108 million m3, while plywood consumption is projected to exceed 79 million m3 by the end of 2009. MDF is the fastest-growing product segment with consumption poised to grow at a compounded annual rate of 9.46% over the period 2001-2010. Consumption of wood panels in Germany, Europe’s single largest market, totalled an estimated 13.6 million m3 in 2006, while China’s MDF consumption is projected to exceed 16 million m3 by 2009, according to the report.
