LEESBURG, Va. -- Shipments of particleboard and MDF in 2017 totaled 5.560 BSF for the year, an increase of 0.9 percent over 2016, according to the Composite Panel Association. December shipments totaled 395 MMSF (3/4-inch basis), down 4.14 percent compared to the same month a year ago at 412 MMSF. 

Particleboard shipments in December were 232 MMSF (3/4-inch basis) and 3.309 BSF for the year, a 0.1 percent increase from 2016. MDF shipments totaled 163 MMSF (3/4-inch basis) for the month and 2.250 BSF for 2017, a 2 percent increase compared to 2016.

Also, CPA reported that shipments of thermally fused laminate (TFL) in 2017 totaled 1.267 BSF, a decrease of 0.5 percent compared to 2016. Fourth quarter shipments were 303 MMSF, up 1.7 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2016. December shipments were 86.4 MMSF, down 0.2 percent from the same month in 2016.

Shipments were extrapolated based on data from 87.3 percent of the U.S. and Canadian industry. Quarterly, the TFL Monthly Shipments Report also includes data on shipments by substrate, country of origin, two-sided lamination and print pattern and color applications.

The Industry Snapshot Report is published each month and is available to members on CPA’s website, http://www.compositepanel.org.