LEESBURG, VA -- North American composite panel shipments in June were 476 MMSF compared to 503 MMSF (3/4â basis) for the same month last year, a decrease of 5.7%, according to the Composite Panel Association (CPA).
The CPA said its monthly survey of panel producers showed that particleboard shipments were 280 MMSF (3/4â basis), down 5.1% from June 2010. Year-to-date particleboard shipments are down 4.6% compared to the first half of 2010. MDF shipments were 157 MMSF (3/4â basis) down 7.8% from last June and down 4.1% year-to-date. Hardboard shipments were 234 MMSF (1/8â basis), down 1.7% from the same month one year ago and up 0.7% compared to the first half of 2010.
CPA reported that shipments of thermally fused melamine (TFM) for June were 116 MMSF, an increase of 7.4% compared to 108 MMSF last month. TFM shipments were up slightly from June 2010, and down 1.5% year to date. US capacity utilization rates have improved 1.8% from June 2010, and Canadian utilization rates were up 1.6% from a year ago, the CPA added.
In the second quarter of 2011, particleboard remained the main substrate used for TFM, with an 87.2% share of the shipments compared to 87.5% in 2010. Two-Sided Laminate held strong at 89.7% of total shipments, compared to 89.8% in the second quarter last year.
Posted by Rich Christianson
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