LEESBURG, VA - North American composite panel shipments in May totaled 523 MMSF, up 2.2% from last month and up 8.3% from 479 MMSF (3/4” basis) in May 2011, according to the Composite Panel Association )CPA).

May particleboard shipments were 299 MMSF (3/4” basis), up 5.5% from last month and up 6.8% from 279 MMSF in May 2011. MDF shipments were 182 MMSF (3/4” basis), down 1.4% from the previous month but up 11.5% compared to last May at 161 MMSF. Hardboard shipments decreased 3.5% from last month to 251 MMSF (1/8” basis), and were up 5% from the same month one year ago at 239 MMSF (1/8” basis).

TFM Shipments Improve in May; Still Trail 2011
CPA reported that May shipments of thermally fused melamine (TFM) were 110 MMSF, a 4% increase over 106 MMSF last month. Shipments were up less than 1% compared to the same month one year ago.

Year-to-date totals indicate shipments fell 5.4% for the first five months of the year compared to 2011. Shipments are extrapolated based on data from 62.8% of the US industry and 79.2% of the Canadian industry.