THE STRUCTURE OF THE HARDWOOD PLYWOOD DISTRIBUTION INDUSTRY

North American distributors of hardwood plywood were surveyed via a ma il questionnaire to better understand the hardwood plywood industry. T otal hardwood plywood sales by North American distributors in 1995 wer e estimated at $1.634 billion and were predicted to increase nearly 8 percent to $1.773 billion by 1999. The Northeast region was responsibl e for 26 percent of all hardwood plywood sales, followed by the West ( 19%), the West Coast(18%), the Southeast(13%), and the Midwest (12%). The Southeast predicted the largest growth in sales from 1995 to 1999 (13%), followed by the West Coast (12%), and the Northeast (11%). Thir ty-seven percent of total 1995 hardwood plywood sales were grade A fac e followed by B face and C face, each accounting for 23 percent of tot al sales. By 1999, a relative decrease was predicted for AA face, A fa ce, and C face, while B face was predicted to increase. Red oak was th e predominant face veneer used in 1995, followed by birch, maple, and cherry. However, use of red oak (as a percent of total sales) was expe cted to decrease by 1999, while use of birch, maple, and cherry was pr edicted to increase. Fifty-eight percent of total 1995 sales of hardwo od plywood was veneer core; 20 percent was medium density fiberboard ( MDF); and 16 percent was particleboard core. Use of MDF and combinatio n core was predicted to increase by 1999 at the expense of veneer core . Thirty-five percent of the hardwood plywood sold to distributors in 1995 was used to manufacture kitchen cabinets; 18 percent for furnitur e; 18 percent for architectural woodworking; and 13 percent for fixtur es.