of construction and manufacturing, ranging from houses, 
bridges, and even road surfaces to the wagons and ships 
that provided the chief means of transportation. It was also 
the main source of fuel for domestic and industrial uses. 
Although over the years industrial and household users 
turned more and more to products made of iron, steel, 
plastics, and other raw materials and to fuel oil, gas, and 
other nonwood materials for power and heating, the de- 
mand for timber products continues. And in total, in recent 
decades it has been rising. 
Between 1950 and 1984, U.S. consumption of all timber 
products (including round fuelwood from nongrowing stock 
sources) increased by more than 50 percent, rising from 
about 12 billion to nearly 19 billion cubic feet. Although 
consumption of round fuelwood increased rapidly in the 
late 1970’s and early 1980’s, this came after declines 
throughout the 1950’s and 1960’s. In contrast, consumption 
of industrial timber products increased fairly steadily over 
the 35-year span. During this period there was growth in 
consumption for nearly all industrial timber products; how- 
ever, most of the increase was in pulp products and in 
plywood, veneer, and other panel products. 
Trends in the Major Timber Products Markets— 
Demands for solid wood products such as lumber and the 
various timber-based structural and nonstructural panel 
products’ are determined largely by trends in the major tim- 
ber products markets—housing, nonresidential construction, 
manufacturing, and shipping. 
Housing—In terms of volumes consumed, residential con- 
struction long has been the most important market for most 
' Structural panel products include softwood plywood, oriented strand 
board, waferboard, and composite board—a waferboard or particleboard and 
veneer combination panel. Nonstructural panel products include hardwood 
plywood, particleboard, insulating board, and hardboard. 
Housing is the largest market for most 
timber products. Roughly half of the 
lumber, two-thirds of the structural panel 
products, and substantial volumes of non- 
structural panels are used in the 
construction, upkeep, and improvement of 
housing. 
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