APA Releases 2016 Structural Panel & Engineered Wood Yearbook

by | Aug 17, 2016 | News

The 2016 Structural Panel & Engineered Wood Yearbook has been released by APA – The Engineered Wood Association. The yearbook includes an analysis of the U.S., Canadian, and global economies, focusing on factors that impact demand for engineered wood products across several market segments as a basis for forecasting expected production of engineered wood products over the next five years. Besides the analysis and forecast, the yearbook also includes historical data on engineered wood production. Topics examined in the yearbook include:

• U.S., Canada, and World economies
• Residential construction in the U.S. and Canada, new and repair/remodel
• Nonresidential and industrial markets
• North American imports and exports
• Outlook and production statistics for structural panels (OSB and plywood), including historical data
• Engineered wood product demand and production (glulam, I-joists, and LVL)

Driven by healthy employment gains over the last three years, annual household growth in the U.S. is back to the 1.2 million level, with demand for new housing units also back to the 1.5–1.6 million unit level. Buoyed by low interest rates, which are expected to remain below 4 percent for most of 2016, construction of new single-family homes in the first quarter of 2016 was up almost 5 percent from the pace of the fourth quarter of 2015, the highest quarterly starts rate since the fourth quarter of 2007. While demand is high in the U.S., the primary concern for the rest of 2016 and for the next several years is the ability of the supply-side forces to respond to this improvement. Home builders report that factors including a lack of developed lots and the shortage of skilled construction labor have combined to constrain their ability to respond to the increased demand for housing. Eventually these constraints will lessen; housing starts are projected to return to approximately 1.5 million units by decade’s end, with a concurrent growth in engineered wood products output ranging from 19–28 percent during this period.

From Woodworking Network: https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/news/almanac-market-data/apa-releases-2016-structural-panel-engineered-wood-yearbook?ss=news,news,woodworking_industry_news,news,almanac_market_data,news

Nominations For Wood Industry Market Leaders

by | Aug 3, 2015 | News

Submit your nominations for wood industry Market Leaders. Established by Woodworking Network magazine, this exclusive program recognizes individuals who have made an impact, not only at their own woodworking firm, but also within their market segments.

These individuals are:
• Forward thinkers/visionaries
• Creative marketers (i.e., product sales, development and positioning)
• Actively involved in promoting product quality, productivity, worker safety and education within their companies and the market as a whole
• Have themselves, or with their companies, demonstrated a commitment to the community.

Nominations should be sent to: Karen Koenig, editor-in-chief, at kkoenig@woodworkingnetwork.com. Please include a short summary of the nominee’s qualifications as a Market Leader, the nominee’s contact information, along with your name and contact information.

Those selected as Market Leaders will be featured in the November issue of Woodworking Network magazine and online at WoodworkingNetwork.com. Market Leaders represent all segments of the woodworking industry, including: cabinetry, residential furniture, contract furniture, architectural woodwork, store fixtures, and closets/home storage.