18 June 2021

EPF_BELGIUM, ANNOUNCES: -2.1% RESULT FOR EUROPEAN WOOD-BASED PANELS IN 2020

Compares favorably to GDP (-6.1%) due to market share gains. At its Press Conference held on 15 June 2021 by videoconference, the European Wood-based Panels Federation (EPF) announced a decline in production of -2.1% during 2020.
It was noted that this was a noticeably smaller drop than GDP (-6.1%) due to continued strong demand for wood-based panels especially in furniture and construction markets.
Despite the overall reduction, very positive results were recorded in both the OSB (+4.1%) and soft-board segments (+5.7%).

These two applications, and indeed all wood-based panels, currently benefit from increased consumer interest in climate friendly, nature-based solutions such as wood. In this, the public is supported by EU policy initiatives including the European Green Deal, the New European Bauhaus and the Renovation Wave Strategy which were also highlighted during the press conference related to EPF advocacy. 
Full results are now available in the brand new EPF Annual Report 2020/2021 which is on sale to the trade and public on the our web. 

Production (million m3)              Countries                  2020              2019             20/19
Particleboard                              EU27+UK+Efta               30.7               32.1              -4.5%
MDF                                             EU27+UK+Efta              12.0               12.2              -1.8%
OSB                                              EU27+UK*Efta                7.0                 6.7                4.1% 
Hardboard                                  EU27+UK+Efta                0.4                 0.5              -1.4%
Softboard                                    EU27+UK+Efta                5.0                 4.7                5.7%
Plywood                                       EU27                               2.8                 3.0              -5.0%
TOTAL                                                                                  58.0               59.2              -2.1%                           

About EPF 
The European Panel Federation has members in more than 32 European countries and represents the manufacturers of Particleboard, MDF, OSB, Hardboard, Softboard and Plywood. The EU wood-based panels industry has an annual turnover of about 22 billion euro, creates over 100,000 jobs directly and counts more than 5,000 enterprises in Europe. 

For more information contact Mr Clive Pinnington, Managing Director: 

European Panel Federation (EPF) 
24 Rue Montoyer 
B-1000 Brussels / Belgium 
Tel. +32 2 5562589 
E-mail: clive.pinnington@europanels.org