WASHINGTON – According to the Composite Panel Assn., producers of MDF in North America reported record shipments in 2006 of more than 2.6 billion square feet of MDF panels (3/4 in. basis). The total increased 7 percent from the previous high of 2.4 billion square feet set in 2004.

North American shipments of MDF have increased steadily over the last decade, including four record-setting years since 2000. U.S. production of MDF accounted for almost 1.9 billion square feet of shipments in 2006, a 12 percent, or 192 million square feet, increase from the previous record year of 2004. Total MDF shipments increased 203 million square feet in 2006 compared to 2005.

In other news, North American particleboard producers posted shipments of 5.3 billion square feet in 2006, a gain of 0.5 percent over 2005.