Epf: good 2021 numbers, cautious for 2022

The annual general meeting of Epf, the European federation of wood-based panels, was recently held with more than 150 participants. Epf announced excellent results for 2021, with an overall increase in production of 9.8 percent. All product types showed an increase over the previous year and each exceeded pre-pandemic levels, demonstrating the industry’s resilience and the public’s growing interest in natural-based materials such as panels. However, it was noted that these results should be treated with caution in terms of how 2022 might develop.

Martin Brettenthaler, Epf chairman, commented: “Like the city of Ghent, our sector has always been innovative, dynamic and sustainable. I am confident that this will help us to find opportunity in today’s turmoil, but this is no longer business as usual. That is why we need our politicians to help secure the energy we need, and the wood we require, but not by burning the latter to supply the former. That is not the solution either in the long, medium or short-term”.