European plywood and blockboard production rose by 1.4% to 3.4 million m3 last year, compared with 2001.
Members of the European Federation of the Plywood Industry (FEIC), which met at La Rochelle for its general assembly on June 13, heard total plywood production has increased by 32% during the past 10 years.
Finland remains the largest manufacturer, representing 36% of output, while the UK is still the biggest European market with a 22% share totalling 1.3 million m3. Imports were stable at 2.8 million m3, whereas exports rose by more than 2% to 2.6 million m3.
Nicola Reni, FEIC president, said European markets continue to be quite competitive, with the euro’s high exchange rate to the US dollar favouring the imports of plywood from non-European countries. In addition, rapidly increasing Chinese imports of cheap okoumé plywood caused dramatic market disruption in 2002 and has led FEIC to lobby European authorities for anti-dumping action.
Mr Reni said the introduction of CE marking provides a real quality mark for European plywoods and he encouraged users to start using products with this label, particularly for construction applications.
