U.S. Timber Production, Trade, Consumption, and Price Statistics, 1965-2013

Abstract

This report is part of an annual series that presents current and historical information on the production, trade, consumption, and prices of timber products in the United States. The report focuses on national statistics, but includes some data for individual States and regions and for Canada. The data were collected from industry trade associations and government agencies. They are intended for use by forest land managers, forest industries, trade associations, forestry schools, renewable resource organizations, libraries, organizations, individuals in the major timber producing and consuming countries of the world, and the general public. A major use of the data presented here is tracking technological change over time. One of the major technology shifts occurring in the wood-using industry is the substitution of oriented strandboard (OSB) for plywood in the structural panel sector, as well as a shift in plywood production from the west to the south United States. Some data show these shifts. United States production of structural panels totaled 29.4 billion ft2 in 1999. Production of OSB increased from less than 3 billion ft2 in 1985 to 11.6 billion ft2 in 1999. Plywood production was 20.1 billion ft2 in 1985 before falling to 17.8 billion ft2 in 1999. The decline in plywood production reflects the continued increase in the OSB share of the traditional plywood market