Second quarter production of structural panels and engineered wood products declined for all products compared with the same quarter last year, according to statistics released by APA – The Engineered Wood Association.
Production of plywood, glulam and I-joists each increased compared with Q1, but production was down by 0.8%, 9% and 17%, respectively, compared with the figures for Q2, 2010.
OSB production declined 0.5% on the previous quarter and by 8% year-over-year.
LVL production was unchanged on Q1, but 16% down compared with the same period a year ago.
Total North American structural panel production in Q2 was 6.66 billion ft2, slightly up on the previous quarter’s 6.61 billion ft2, and down by 5.2% on the 7.02 billion ft2 reported for Q2, 2010.
US mills accounted for 4.84 billion ft2 of total North American structural panel production in Q2, compared with 4.79 billion ft2 in Q1 and down 6.6% on US production of 5.18 billion ft2 in Q2, 2010.
Canadian production in Q2 this year was 1.81 billion ft2, down slightly from Q1’s 1.82 billion ft2, and the 1.84 billion ft2 reported for Q2, 2010.
As US housing starts weakened in 2011 compared with last year, total North American OSB production in Q2 was 3.87 billion ft2, down slightly from the 3.88 billion ft2 reported in Q1, and down 8.2% from 4.21 billion ft2 in Q2, 2010.
US OSB production in Q2 was 2.54 billion ft2, down from 2.53 billion ft2 in Q1 and down 10% from 2.83 billion ft2 in Q2, 2010.
Canadian OSB production also fell quarter over quarter, to 1.32 billion ft2 compared with 1.36 billion ft2, and down 4.4% on the 1.38 billion ft2 reported for Q2 2010.
Of the total plywood figures, US production accounted for 2.30 billion ft2 in Q2, compared with 2.26 billion ft2 in Q1 and 2.35 billion ft2 in Q2, 2010.
