Figure 21— Consumption of structural panels. 



Billion square feet (3/8-inch basis) 



1990 



2000 



2010 



2020 



2030 



2040 



18.1 



I I Soft plywood 



I I Oriented strand 



6.3 



17 



12 



15.9 

 16.4 



15.6 



21.2 



15.4 



23.9 



15.3 



27 



Structural shifts involved new investments in technology and equipnnent that are not 

 easily reversed. As a result, commercial use of fuelwood remained relatively stable 

 through the 1980's. Noncommercial use declined in the late 1980's due to declines in 

 fossil fuel prices and increasing regulation of wood stove emissions. Although there 

 was a respite in energy price rises in the 1980's, they will probably increase signifi- 

 cantly after the turn of the century, resulting in further increased demand for fuelwood. 



The demands for all major wood products are projected to increase through 2040. 

 The projection methodology used takes into account the effects of supplies of prod- 

 ucts and projects market equilibrium measures of demand and supply. 



After a projected decline in 2000, consumption of softwoods will resume growth 

 through the projection period, reflecting a growing economy and renewal of an aging 

 housing inventory. Also, experts believe that over time, new houses will be bigger, 

 consuming more lumber and structural panels than today's new homes. By 2040, 

 softwood timber consumption will be about 1 .2 times that in 1990. 



Projected consumption of hardwood timber in 2010 will be about 1 .2 times consump- 

 tion in 1990, largely due to changing technologies and the rising demands of a 

 growing economy. Demands for pulpwood, fuelwood, and pallets in particular are 



32 



