by Web Editor | Jan 6, 2017 | News
The United States International Trade Commission says there is a “reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of hardwood plywood from China that are allegedly subsidized and sold in the United States at less than fair value.”
Noting all six of its commissioners voted in favor, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue to conduct its antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on imports of hardwood plywood. A judgment on whether countervailing duties should be levied to discourage the imports is due February 13, 2017, and its preliminary antidumping duty determination due on or about April 27, 2017.
The issue is contentious, with U.S. plywood makers – the Hardwood Plywood Coalition – battling to restrict China’s exports, while an opposing group that buys plywood for casegoods, the American Alliance for Hardwood Plywood (its members include the Kitchen Cabinet Makers Association) wants to allow imports to continue as is.
Indeed, the American Alliance for Hardwood Plywood issued a statement expressing disappointment in the ruling by the International Trade Commission. AAHP Chairman Greg Simon issued the following statement:
“We are disappointed that this investigation will proceed, but remain very confident that the facts continue to be on our side. This is now the third time that the federal government will conduct a thorough review and we believe they will reach the same finding as before–imported hardwood plywood products from China are traded fairly at competitive prices and have a rightful place in the global consumer market. This continued legal harassment by CFTHP against imports is putting thousands of U.S. jobs at risk during a time when manufacturing is in desperate need of revival. Our alliance of small medium and large American importers, distributors, retailers of hardwood plywood and domestic kitchen cabinet manufacturers remains united in opposition to these bogus charges and look forward to presenting our side to the ITC and Department of Commerce in the coming months.”
From Woodworking Network: https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/news/woodworking-industry-news/china-hardwood-plywood-dumping-gets-third-review-international-trade?ss=news,news,woodworking_industry_news,news,almanac_market_data,news
by Web Editor | Dec 14, 2016 | News
Wood based panel market size was valued over USD 16 billion in 2015 and is anticipated to grow at CAGR of over 13% and exceed USD 35 billion by 2023.
In 2014, China wood based panel market accounted for more than 50,000 products for manufacturing and trading enterprises, employing more than 10 million workforce and generating an output of USD 155 billion. The utilization by these enterprises exceeds 520 million and the value of exports was USD 75 billion in 2014. However, the sector suffers from a poor image due to quality scandals. In 2015, Italy has recorded gain of 7%, with an optimistic business climate for the third consecutive quarter.
China exported 5.8 million tons of wood based panels which cost around USD 5,813 million in 2014, growing at a CAGR of 15% over the previous year. China trades with the U.S., where it exports around 15% of its total panel, accounting for 55% of the U.S. total imports. One of the challenges that both the North American and European panel makers are facing is the increasing imports from China.
Increasing deforestation has lead towards the global warming which has boosted the demand growth for efficient and effective utilization of timber. This is expected to fuel the industry demand over the forecast period. In addition, technological innovation and advancement along with the mounting efficiency in manufacturing is likely to bolster the demand from 2016 to 2023.
Modernization in infrastructure and rapid industrialization in developing economies of Asia Pacific is likely to be a chief industry driver for the global wood based panel market over the next few years.
From SATPRNews.com: https://satprnews.com/2016/12/13/wood-based-panel-market-size-to-exceed-usd-35-billion-by-2023-global-market-insights-inc/
by Web Editor | Oct 26, 2016 | News
The global market for plywood is projected to reach 223.4 million cubic meters by 2022, driven by recovering construction activity in most countries worldwide; rise in high value, high rise constructions; growing preference for plywood in interior design especially of floors, ceilings, and walls; and a healthy furniture industry, according to Plywood – Global Strategic Business Report 2016.
Significance of plywood in the construction sector has increased substantially over the last decade due to the various benefits of plywood such as maintainability, strength-to-weight ratio and price.
A growing construction market particularly residential housing, spurt in renovation and remodeling projects and increased spending on bedroom and dining room furnishing represent major drivers of plywood consumption worldwide.
The growing demand for furniture is supported by improving economic growth, rising incomes, recovering home values and the ensuing greater willingness of homeowners to invest in furnishings and interior architecture. Demand is also expected to surge in the transportation end-use sector. In the packaging sector, on the other hand, growing popularity of alternative materials such as cardboard and plastic will challenge growth of plywood based packaging solutions, according to the report.
Production of plywood is migrating from North America, Europe and South Asia to China. Quality and cost continue to drive plywood supply mix worldwide. In 2015, Russian plywood made its mark in international trade, particularly in the EU market, driven by relatively lower prices of Russian birch plywood.
From Woodworking Network: https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/news/woodworking-industry-news/construction-china-demand-drive-global-plywood-growth-2022
by Web Editor | Sep 7, 2016 | News
The log yard is filled with two months’ worth of inventory and activity is humming at Columbia Forest Products’ veneer plant, east of North Bay. After being mothballed for five years, operations at the hardwood veneer mill in Rutherglen resumed April 18 running one shift of 52 employees.
Without delving into production numbers, mill manager Peter Loy said since the reopening, things have gone well as the operation continues to its ramp-up toward full production.
Heading into 2016, Northern American veneer demand wasn’t exactly bursting at the seams, but it had improved sufficiently enough for Columbia to make the decision to restart the 100,000-square-foot mill it had shuttered in 2010.
Loy said it’s difficult to forecast if the veneer markets will show signs of improvement over a sustained stretch. “Nobody can look forward any more than a few months and say, ‘it’s going to be a banner time’ or ‘no, we’d better think about slowing down.’ Historically, there’s a cycle to appetites through the year and typically it slacks off toward the end of the year and picks up early in the new year. It has to do with inventories and costing over the year-end.”
The U.S. remains the No. 1 global importer of hardwood veneer. “One of our largest competitors for our end product, being plywood, is China,” said Loy. “And they’ve eaten up a whole lot of market share in North America with their imports. As far as veneer goes, they’ll always be imports for sliced and specialty woods – things like that – but it’s not a big bite of our lunch.”
From Northern Ontario Business: https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/Industry-News/forestry/2016/09/Veneer-mill-thrives-amid-market-uncertainty.aspx
by Web Editor | Aug 1, 2016 | News
The Environmental Protection Agency rolled out a formaldehyde emission standard, working with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) in setting the rules that are mandated by Congress.
The EPA moved to reduce exposure to formaldehyde vapors from laminate panel and engineered wood products produced domestically or imported into the United States. The agency worked with the California Air Resources Board to make its final national rule consistent with California requirements for composite wood products.
One year after the rule is published, composite wood products that are sold, supplied, offered for sale, manufactured, or imported in the United States will need to be labeled as TSCA Title VI compliant. These products include: hardwood plywood, medium-density fiberboard, particleboard as well as household and other finished goods containing these products.
The action was triggered in large part by discovering that Lumber Liquidators’ flooring supply from China has been labeled CARB compliant though it was not. Lumber Liquidators has since settled with CARB and the Consumer Products Safety Commission over its liability for the matter. The new rule requires other sellers of laminate panel to meet the CARB standards for formaldehyde exposure.
EPA says the new rule will level the playing field for domestic laminate flooring manufacturers who have a high rate of compliance with the California standard and will ensure that imported products not subject to California’s requirements will meet the new standard and thus, not contain dangerous formaldehyde vapors.”
From Woodworking Network: https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/news/woodworking-industry-news/epa-issues-final-formaldehyde-exposure-rule-guided-carb
