Billion square feet (3/8-inch basis) 
40 
35 
30 
25 
20 
15 
1950 1960 1970 1980 
*Other includes OSB/waferboard 
Total 
Softwood plywood 
Sn = SR Se Gee ae man mol amet Se Lames ae Ts 
Other types* 
— 
ya 
os” 
2000 2010 2020 2030 
Figure 3.4—Structural panel consumption in the United States, by type, 1950-84, with projections to 2030 
slightly to 20.2 billion in 2030. Because of trends in their 
major markets, as well as the assumptions about market pen- 
etration and product substitution discussed earlier, somewhat 
different trends in demand are projected for the various 
products. Insulating board, whose major market is residen- 
tial construction, is projected to slowly decline. Hardwood 
plywood, used in manufacturing as well as construction, in- 
creases through 2030, while particleboard rises until 2010, 
shows no growth in the 2020’s, and thereafter declines. 
Hardboard is the only nonstructural panel product to show 
a steady increase throughout the projection period. 
Consumption and Projected Demands for Pulpwood— 
Pulpwood use in the United States has been increasing fairly 
rapidly over most of the past 100 years. Much of this 
growth has taken place since the early 1950’s, a period in 
which consumption in U.S. mills has more than quadrupled, 
rising from about 27 million cords in 1952 to more than 91 
million in 1984. As a result of this growth, currently over 
a third of the industrial roundwood harvested from domes- 
tic timberland is used as pulpwood. 
Demand for pulpwood is a derived demand in the sense 
that is is determined by demands for paper, board, and other 
woodpulp-based products. Consumption of paper and board 
has risen from 28.7 million tons in 1950 to 77.6 million in 
1984. Per capita consumption increased from 377 to 656 
pounds over the same period. 
Consumption of most major grades of paper and board has 
increased substantially in recent years. However, there have 
been large differences in the rates of growth. These differ- 
ences have resulted from such factors as changes in 
consumer tastes, development of new pulp-based products, 
inroads of substitutes, and varying rates of growth in 
major sectors of the economy. 
99 
