mdf

Wood pulp production for the year ended March 2002 was 3.51 million cubic metres (m3), down 6％ on the previous year, but export volumes rose 13％ to 783,000 tonnes. Exports were able to rise, despite production falling, because imports rose (thus displacing product), and stocks were reduced by 12％. Total paper and paperboard production rose slightly to 847,000 tonnes for the year ended March 2002, while exports were 510,000 tonnes, an increase of 10％. Exports of wood panels (mainly medium density fibreboard - MDF) increased by 3％ to 868,000 m3 in the March 2002 year and were valued at $515 million, up 1％ on the previous year. Japan remained New Zealand's main export market for wood pulp (32％ by volume in the year to March 2002), followed by the People's Republic of China (China) (22％) and Australia (15％). China was the second ranked export destination, with 18％ of export MDF volume, with the Philippines at third place on 7％. The United States (US) MDF market jumped 118％ in value to $42.8 million, moving it up from fifth to second place in term of export value. Japan, while falling slightly, was still by far the largest MDF market at $112 million.