LEESBURG, VA - Combined U.S. and Canadian shipments of particleboard increased 6.5 percent to 290 MMSF (3/4" basis) in October helping to offset a 9.4 percent drop to 177 MMSF (3/4" basis) in MDF shipments compared to October 2012.

The result was a 0.1 percent decline for total particleboard and MDF shipments in October, according to the Composite Panel Association (CPA). Combined year-do-date shipments of the particleboard and MDF - 4.636 MMSF (3/4” basis) - were 6.6 percent ahead of the first 10 months of 2012.

Year-to-date particleboard shipments were ahead of 2012 by 8.7% at 2.820 MMSF.  Year-to-date MDF shipments were up 3.4% compared to 2012 at 1.817 MMSF.

October TFL Shipments Rise 3.6%
The CPA also reported shipments of thermally fused laminate (TFL) in October were 116 MMSF, up 3.6 percent compared to 112 MMSF a year ago and rose 7.8 percent over last month. Year-to-date TFL shipments totaled 1.095 MMSF, up 4.2 percent over the same period last year.

Shipments are extrapolated based on data from 69.6 percent of the U.S. industry and 76 percent of the Canadian industry.