UN/ECE Timber Committee

Geneva, 3 October 2001Geneva, 3 October 2001

Developments in the European Developments in the European wood-based panels industrieswood-based panels industries

European Panel European Panel FederationFederation

Presentation by Dominique Coutrot, Presentation by Dominique Coutrot, UIPPUIPP

The European Panel FederationThe European Panel Federation represents 200 particleboard, 60 MDFrepresents 200 particleboard, 60 MDF

and 7 OSB manufacturersand 7 OSB manufacturers

Annual productionAnnual production PB: PB: 32.2 mio m³ 32.2 mio m³ (+5%)(+5%)MDF: 9.0MDF: 9.0 mio m³ mio m³ (+27%)(+27%)OSB: 1.2 mioOSB: 1.2 mio m³ m³ (+20%)(+20%)

Members in Members in 2323 countriescountries

European Woodworking Industry 2000 :

155 billion EURO

Furniture59%

Packaging3%

Wood-based panels

8%Construction timber, incl.

parquet13%

Other6%

Sawing, planing,

impregnation11%

Wood-based Wood-based ppanelsanels in Europe, in Europe, 20002000

OSB2%

MDF18%

Particleboards71%

Plywood6%

Wet process fibreboards

3%

Total production: 51.1 mio m³ + 8%

Particleboard production in Europe1991-2000, x million m³

0

4

8

12

16

20

24

28

32

36

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

Key figures particleboard

+2.8%+2.8%30.419 million 30.419 million m³m³

ConsumptioConsumptionn

-1.5%-1.5%7.018 million m³7.018 million m³ImportsImports

+4.4%+4.4%8.688 million m³8.688 million m³ExportsExports

+4.6%+4.6%32.218 million 32.218 million m³m³ProductionProduction

MDF production in Europe,1991-2000, x million m³

0

2

4

6

8

10

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

OSB production in Europe1995-2000, x million m³

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

0

10

20

30

40

50

particleboard MDF OSB

2000

2002

Expansion of production capacity

x mio m³

+4%

+15%+57%

Demand side (I):

2.2. construction industryconstruction industry : :

Western Europe: Western Europe: moderate growth rates moderate growth rates of 1.4% (2001) to 1.7% (2002/03)of 1.4% (2001) to 1.7% (2002/03)

C-Eastern Europe: C-Eastern Europe: acceleration from acceleration from 5.3% 5.3% in 2001 to in 2001 to 7.4% in 20037.4% in 2003

1.1. furniture industryfurniture industry: stagnating : stagnating population and increased competitionpopulation and increased competition

Demand side (II):

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

3.3. laminate flooring: strong rises in laminate flooring: strong rises in productionproduction

over the last 5 yearsover the last 5 years

Prospects for the future2000 was record year2000 was record year

First signs of weakness in 4First signs of weakness in 4thth Quarter 2000 Quarter 2000Stagnation during the first half of Stagnation during the first half of 20012001

Slow growth MDF productionSlow growth MDF productionDecrease of PB and OSB productionDecrease of PB and OSB productionIndustry adapted to the marketIndustry adapted to the marketExtremely rapid turn of general Extremely rapid turn of general

economiceconomic environment environmentDomino-effect: reduced stocks with Domino-effect: reduced stocks with customerscustomers

Prospects for the futureDepending on Depending on

market developments, especially constructionmarket developments, especially constructioneffect of the € on industial and consumer effect of the € on industial and consumer demanddemand

New applications – role of the New applications – role of the industry/federationsindustry/federationsProblems in the short term, but confident for Problems in the short term, but confident for the the future: versatile, eco-efficient, engineered future: versatile, eco-efficient, engineered products,products, modern equipment modern equipment

Prospects for the future (2)

Similar situation end of 1998, beginning Similar situation end of 1998, beginning of 1999of 1999

Despite this, 1998 and 1999 showed Despite this, 1998 and 1999 showed growthgrowth

Create reversed domino-effect: increased Create reversed domino-effect: increased stocksstocks with customers with customers

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