BELGIUM – In 2023, European production of wood-based panels experienced a notable decline of 6.3%, as reported by the European Panel Federation (EPF).

BELGIUM – The EU Commission has initiated anti-dumping proceedings against decor paper imports from China. A corresponding publication was made in the Official Journal of the European Union.

ITALY -The inaugural interzum forum Italy, held in Bergamo, concluded with remarkable success. This biennial event, a new addition to the global calendar of furniture and interior design gatherings, brought together industry professionals worldwide.

USA – BTG Pactual Timberland Investment Group (TIG) has recently forged a transformative partnership with Microsoft, poised to deliver 8 million tons of carbon offset credits by 2043.

MEXICO – SGS has launched a state-of-the-art furniture testing lab in Guadalajara, Mexico, expanding its capacity for consumer product testing in the region.

GERMANY – Ravensberger Holz GmbH in Bielefeld, Germany, has achieved a significant milestone with the installation of a CNC drilling and routing center featuring robotic handling, marking a major advance in automation and digitalization in the wooden panel processing industry.

FINLAND – Metsä Group is collaborating with the technology company Andritz to explore integrating carbon capture into its bioproduct mill, potentially pioneering a global first.

GERMANY – At the end of May 2024, Deutsche Messe AG and the VDMA Woodworking Machinery Association reported excellent booking status for LIGNA 2025.

COLOMBIA – The value of Colombian imports of decorative papers for panel surfaces and decorative laminates reached USD 4.20 million in 1Q-2024.

GERMANY – In the first quarter of this year, the German furniture industry saw a decline in its export business. According to preliminary data from the Federal Statistical Office, furniture exports fell by nearly 9 percent to approximately EUR 2 billion.

ITALY – The premiere  interzum forum italy will take place in Bergamo on June 6-7, 2024, with the participation of 200 exhibitors from 23 countries and more than 30 conferences with 60 speakers from Italy and around the world.

CHILE – Chilean exports of particleboards (PB/MDP) reached USD 23.88 million in the first quarter of 2024 (1Q-2024), marking a 5.1% increase from USD 22.72 million in 1Q-2023.