Production of North American structural panels was just 5.378 billion ft² in the first quarter, a 33% drop from the same quarter last year (8.077 billion ft²), according to APA-The Engineered Wood Association.
The Washington-based trade association said housing starts in the first quarter of this year were expected to be about one half of the level in the same period last year, when the housing recession was already in full bloom. Production of OSB dropped 41% to 2.873 billion ft², compared with 4.853 billion ft² in the same quarter of 2008. The rate of decline was the same in both the US – from 3.436 to 2.023 billion ft²; and Canada – from 1.417 to 850 million ft².
Softwood plywood production was 2.505 billion ft², of which Canada accounted for 16% and the US 84%. Production in both countries was 22% lower than in the first quarter of last year, but the declines were less sharp than those in OSB production as more plywood is used in remodelling, industrial and non-residential construction than new home construction, APA noted.
In Canada, softwood plywood production was 413 million ft², compared with 530 million ft² in 2008; while in the US production dropped from 2.694 billion ft² to 2.092 billion ft² in the first quarter of 2009.
Total North American consumption of structural panels was 5.362 billion ft², compared with 7.938 billion ft² in the same quarter of 2008, a decline of 32.45%.
The US consumed 4.638 billion ft², 13% lower than in the fourth quarter of 2008 (5.351 billion ft²) and 33% less than in the first quarter of 2008 (6.940 billion ft²). Canada’s structural panel consumption was 724 million ft², down 19% from 891 million ft² in the fourth quarter of 2008; and 27% lower than the 998 million ft² consumed the first quarter of 2008.
