1.EU Tightens Birch Plywood Import Reviews
In April 2025, the EU intensified scrutiny on birch plywood imports, targeting potential sanctions evasion via transshipments through China and Turkey. Importers now face stricter compliance checks, directly impacting melamine board supply chains—especially for 3/4-inch melamine plywood and 8×4 ft white melamine boards widely used in European furniture.
2.Koskisen’s Plywood Expansion Plan
Finnish firm Koskisen announced a €12M investment to expand plywood production in Järvelä by 2027, boosting capacity from 65K to 85K cubic meters. The plan focuses on automating production for high-end melamine-faced substrates, including 1/2-inch weather-resistant boards for veranda applications.
3.China’s Dominance in Global Supply
As the world’s largest plywood exporter ($5.27B in 2024, +29.4% to Saudi Arabia), China leads melamine board manufacturing. Chinese factories supply 8×4 ft white melamine particle boards (12mm/15mm) at $18-22 per sheet, with UV-finished variants for cabinets. Black melamine particle boards and textured sheets are also key exports.
4.Market Growth & Green Trends
The global plywood market (USD 74.2B in 2024) is projected to reach USD 111.5B by 2029, driven by APAC demand (60% share). Sustainability gains traction: 28% of producers adopted formaldehyde-free adhesives in 2024, while FSC-certified melamine plywood accounts for 30% of output, aligning with EU recycling regulations.
