Composite Panel Industry Continues To Adjust

by Web Editor | Oct 12, 2016 | News

From: Panel World Staff

A report conducted by Forest Economic Advisors and released by Composite Panel Association says that in 2015, the total (direct, indirect and induced) impacts of U.S. CPA-member composite panel manufacturing on the U.S. economy were $7.05 billion in output, employment of more than 22,500 and wages of $1.45 billion. The Canadian composite mills’ impact on the Canadian economy were $3.41 billion (Can), employment of almost 11,500 and $724 (Can) in wages.

“Economic Impact of U.S. and Canadian Composite Panel Mills” also reveals that in 2015 37 U.S. CPA-member mills had sales of $2.30 billion and 12 Canadian mills had sales of $1.34 billion (Can).

The report estimates that U.S. and Canadian composite panel facilities consumed 8.3 million dry tons of residual fiber in 2015, out of total residual supply of 76 million dry tons. On a regional basis, composite panel mills in the U.S. South consumed the most wood fiber, accounting for 2.8 million dry tons, 34% of the total in 2015.

Other findings:
— Resin costs account for 30% of composite panel production costs.
— Energy costs account for 10-20% of costs.
— Value-added shipments accounted for 31% of North American particleboard ships in 2014 and 18% of MDF shipments. For particleboard, the biggest value-added product was thermally fused laminate panels, accounting for 66% of value-added particleboard shipments.
— In 2015, the 42 composite panel mills operating in the U.S. and 12 in Canada had total capacity of 8.15 billion SF (five of these U.S. mills were not CPA members).
— In 2015, North American composite panel shipments hit 5.97 billion SF, 31% below the pre-recession mark of 8.64 billion SF, but a gradual improvement over 5.23 billion SF in 2009.

Read more in the November issue of Panel World magazine…