DEMAND FOR TIMBER PRODUCTS 



177 



is assumed to continue, even though plywood, 

 slice-wood, or other materials may be used to an 

 increasing degree. Lumber use for pallets has, 

 therefore, been projected to rise to some 8.5 billion 

 board feet by 2000 (medium projection and 1970 

 prices) — some 2.7 times consumption in 1970 

 (table 132, fig. 68). 



Small but increasing quantities of plywood and 

 hardboard have been used in pallet manufacture. 

 It was assumed that demand for these products 

 would also rise in line with the projected demand 

 for pallets. 



Demand for Timber Products in Wooden Containers 



Between 1948 and 1960, the value of shipments 

 (in 1967 dollars) of wooden containers, that is, 

 boxes and crates, wirebound boxes and crates, and 

 veneer and plywood containers, dropped more than 

 38 percent (table 133). This fall off largely re- 

 flected continuing displacement of wooden con- 

 tainers by fiber and plastic containers, metal and 

 fiber barrels and pails, and multiwall bags. 



Several factors contributed to this displace- 

 ment, including lower costs of substitute con- 

 tainers, lower shipping weights and associated 

 freight _ costs, and adaptability to automated 

 packaging and shipping operations. However, in 

 packaging some items, such as large bulky 

 products, delicate instruments, glass, ceramics, and 

 certain fruits and vegetables, these advantages 



Lumber consumed in shipping, 1948-70, 

 with projections of demand to 2000 



| dunnage 

 B»>8 containers 

 §$Ss§3 pallets 



Figure 68 



have been outweighed by the need for special 

 protection. 



Since I960, growing shipments of these latter 

 items have led to a small rise in demand for wooden 

 containers, as measured by value of shipments. 

 In view of anticipated growth in manufacturing 

 and agricultural production, continuing modest 

 increases in the value of shipments of wooden 

 containers have been projected. 



The use of lumber and veneer and plywood 

 per dollar of shipments of wooden containers 

 has shown a consistent downward trend (table 

 133), reflecting such factors as greater use of 

 paperboard and plastic containers and increases 

 in containerized and bulk shipments. It seems 

 likely that such trends will continue and use of 

 lumber and veneer and plywood per dollar of 

 shipments has therefore been projected to decline 

 slowly. 



These projected decreases in use per dollar 

 of shipments roughly offset projected increases 

 in total shipments. As a result, the medium 

 projections of demand for lumber and veneer 

 and plywood in wooden containers, at 1970 

 prices, remain close to recent levels through the 

 1970-2000 period. 



Demand for Timber Products in Dunnage 



In the past two decades use of lumber for 

 dunnage, blocking, and bracing in railroad cars, 

 trucks, and ships has amounted to an estimated 

 800 million board feet a year (table 131). This 

 stability, in a period of rapid increases in the 

 volume of goods transported, apparently reflects 

 effects of growth in palletized, containerized, 

 and bulk shipments. Growth in such shipments 

 is expected to continue. The medium projection 

 of demand for lumber for dunnage, blocking, and 

 bracing at 1970 prices has therefore been projected 

 to remain at about 800 million feet a year. 



Projected Demand for Timber Products in Shipping 



Projected total demand for lumber in shipping, 

 that is pallets, containers, and dunnage rises 

 rather sharply because of the projected growth 

 in demand for pallets and by 2000 reaches 10.9 

 billion board feet (medium projection — 1970 

 relative prices), nearly double consumption in 

 1970 (table 134, fig. 68). Projected demand for 

 plywood and veneer rises to 1.1 billion square 

 feet (%-inch basis) in 2000 — about 1.8 times 

 consumption in 1970. 



DEMAND FOR TIMBER PRODUCTS IN MISCEL- 

 LANEOUS USES 



In addition to the major end uses covered 

 above, an estimated 8.5 billion board feet of 

 lumber and substantial quantities of plywood 

 and building board were used in 1970 for other 

 purposes (table 135). These included upkeep and 



