European output of plywood and blockboard jumped by 30% and 6% respectively last year compared with 1998, according to figures released by the European Federation of the Plywood Industry (FEIC) at its annual assembly in Morocco.
Total production of blockboard among members during 2000 rose 6.6% to 316,000m³. Overall production of EU plywood jumped 30% to 3.1 million m³ in 2000 on 1998 figures and exports rose from 2.1 million to 2.7 million m³ last year.
Finland remains the largest producer of plywood (one million m³), followed by France (471,000m³) and Italy (398,000m³).
EU production of tropical timber-faced plywood fell by 2.4% to 452,000m³ in 2000. France remained the largest European player in this market with output falling 1.6% there to 305,000m³.
The FEIC says European consumption of plywood increased by 4.6% to five million m³ during 2000.
The UK and Germany have the largest plywood markets in the EU with a market share of 20% each.
