The European Panel Federation Reports European Wood-Based Panel Consumption Declined in 2022

According to figures released on Friday (6-2-23), by the European Panel Federation (EPF), European wood-based panel production declined by 7.8%.  The report notes that output, specifically related to EPF member countries, totaled 59.8 million m3. Consumption of wood-based panels followed a similar pattern with a decrease of 7.0% to 60.8 million m3 when compared to 2021.

The latest statistics contained in the recently published EPF Annual Report 2022, follows the earlier release in May of provisional figures presented at the Interzum Exhibition in Germany. In speaking about the report EPF managing director, Clive Pinnington told delegates to the Interzum that essentially 2022 H1 had an “OK” performance, but H2 was “not quite a catastrophe, but nearly”, with the furniture industry in particular suffering in H2 2022 a 5% reverse.

Other highlights of the report included:

• Particleboard production capacity increased by 1% in 2022, with a 3.3% increase expected in 2023 and afterwards.
• MDF suffered a more severe production output decline in 2022, with a 9.3% decline, to 12.5 million m3, though it has to be noted that the comparison year (2021) had seen a sharp increase in output of 7.7%.
• The OSB sector experienced a 10.7% decline in production to 6.4 million m3, while softboard (predominantly wood fiber board insulation), suffered an 8.9% reversal to 5.1 million m3.
• European plywood production was down 2.5% in 2022 to 3.1 million m3.
• Consumption of wood-based panels in the key furniture industry fell 1% in 2022. Nevertheless, the furniture industry consumed 48% of all wood-based panels last year – down from 49% in 2021.