The future of wood based panels
Over the past decade wood-based panels have constituted the fastest growing sector of forest industries. In 1973 production throughout the world reached the impressive level of 95 million cubic metres, an impressive increase over the 39 million cubic metres, produced 10 years ago.
Comparing the growth of wood-based panels to other branches of forest industries we find that over the 10 years ending in 1973 wood pulp production increased at a rate of S.1 percent a year, paper and paperboard by 5.4 percent and sawnwood by 2.3 percent, while the average growth of wood-based panels over the same period was more than 9 percent annually.
Within the wood-based panels sector itself the pattern of development has been uneven in several respects. During the decade 1963-73 fibreboard experienced the slowest growth, 58 percent, or 4.7 percent annually, while plywood production expanded by 109 percent, achieving an annual rate of 7.7 percent, and particle board production raced ahead by 415 percent, or nearly 18 percent annually.
The overall growth of the wood-based panels industry has been striking indeed but we must temper our enthusiasm over the proven dynamic qualities of a specific industry when, clearly, economic affairs in general are taking a bad turn in too many nations.
Keeping it healthy
Are the factors which caused this growth in recent years still in evidence, or have they already begun to disappear or to assume new forms? What are the various regional trends and how are they interconnected? What are the implications for developing countries which have the raw materials base for wood-based panel industries on their own ground but account for only 7 percent of world production? How can supplies be made to stretch equitably and for the interconnected needs of both developed and developing regions? And what are the economics of investment and manufacture of the various types of panels? In other words, how do we keep this sector healthy when sickness is in the air, and, if it has already caught the disease, how fast can we make it recover?
The World Consultation on Wood-Based Panels which is to take place from 6 to 16 February 1975, sponsored by FAO and the Government of India, will bring together several hundred of the world's leading authorities who will deal with these questions among others. Both the time and the place for this important meeting are fortunate. It will be more than 10 years since the last such gathering was held in Rome. An indication of the level of the New Delhi meeting and the variety of subjects to be dealt with may be had from the titles of the consultation papers, some of which are listed on page 36 of this issue.
The New Delhi meeting also comes at a time of steep increases in the prices of certain raw materials which are of particular significance for wood-based panels. Much higher prices for synthetic adhesives and binders represent an important element in the final cost of most of these products. In the past year there have also been noticeable new developments in trade flows, sources of raw materials and the location of production capacity.
In addition to analysing the present and future state of the wood-based panels industry's technology and economy, the meeting in New Delhi is expected to produce proposals for policies and actions to be taken by governments, planning organizations, international financing and development agencies, industries, trade associations, and the universities and research institutes. These organizations are expected to be well represented in New Delhi.
Because the New Delhi meeting will bring together an important cross section of the industry, it may also assist countries with abundant wood resources in planning the development of integrated forest industries which will include wood-based panels manufacturing. We hope it will, because this is badly needed in certain areas.
Mixed tropical hardwoods
Some of the most interesting discussions at the meeting are likely to be those dealing with the use of mixed tropical hardwoods both as a source of raw materials and as fuel for generation of heat and power needed in the manufacture of wood-based panels. The reports and opinions concerning manufacture of natural adhesives, for example, tannin-based bonding substances, from locally available raw materials are also promising. Another subject of importance will be the dwindling supply of certain "classical" peeler species for plywood. The meeting will also afford opportunities to examine and compare costs of transportation of raw materials to the mills and of final products to domestic and export markets, as well as the costs and technology of new products and equipment.
All those who will participate in the New Delhi meeting, either personally or by reading the reports of the sessions, are bound to become more aware of the economic interdependence of all nations of the world. It is an interdependence which grows apace with the size and significance of the world's population, economy and technological progress. The rapid development of trade in forest products as an international commodity is part of this growth of the family of mankind, its needs and its activities.
In considering the future of the economy and technology of wood-based panels we recall an estimate made at the United Nations Population Conference in Bucharest in August 1974. It is that in order to adequately house the world's population by the end of this century there will have to be as many additional dwellings as exist on the earth now. The size of this need should underlie the planning and orientation of the wood-based panels industry and trade which are so important and so promising in answering man's rapidly growing requirements for building materials.
