LEESBURG, VA - North American composite panel shipments in July totalled 503 MMSF, up 10% from 452 MMSF (3/4” basis) for the same period a year ago, according to the Composite Panel Association (CPA).

Overall shipments were up 2% compared to last month at 492 MMSF.

Particleboard shipments totalled 280 MMSF (3/4” basis), up 0.6% from last month and up 6% from 263 MMSF in July 2011. MDF shipments were 180 MMSF (3/4” basis), up 2.7% over June and 15.1% compared to last July at 152 MMSF. Hardboard shipments improved 9.7% from last month to 261 MMSF (1/8” basis) and were up 16% from the same month one year ago at 218 MMSF (1/8” basis).

Thermally Fused Melamine Shipments
July shipments of thermally fused melamine were 102 MMSF, a slight decrease from 103 MMSF compared to the same month one year ago. Shipments are down 10% from last month, dropping for a third consecutive month this year. However, year to date totals indicate shipments are down only 3.1% compared to 2011. Shipments are extrapolated based on data from 62.8% of the US industry and 79.2% of the Canadian industry.