BELGIUM – European wood-based panel production fell 7.8% in 2022, according to figures recently released by the European Panel Federation (EPF).

Production of panels, relating specifically to EPF member countries, totalled 59.8 million m3. Consumption of wood-based panels followed a similar pattern, with a reduction of 7% (60.8 million m3) compared to 2021.

About 200 representatives from the global wood-based panels industry were given the figures for the first time at the EPF AGM and conference in Santiago de Compostela on June 23.

Clive Pinnington, EPF managing director, informed delegates that essentially the first half of 2022 had an “OK” performance, but performance in the second half of the year  was “not quite a catastrophe, but nearly”, with the furniture industry in particular falling by 5%.

European particleboard production reduced 6.9% in 2022 to 32.1 million m3. MDF suffered a more severe production output decline in 2022,with a 9.3% dip to 12.5 million m3. The OSB sector saw a 10.7% decline in production to 6.4 million m3. European plywood production was down by 2.5% in 2022 to 3.1million m3.