Italian Particle Board Prices Reach Average of $562 per Cubic Meter, Surging by 18%

Italy Particle Board Export Price in April 2023

In April 2023, the particle board price stood at $562 per cubic meter (FOB, Italy), picking up by 18% against the previous month. In general, the export price, however, recorded a slight slump. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in November 2022 when the average export price increased by 20% m-o-m. Over the period under review, the average export prices hit record highs at $734 per cubic meter in January 2023; however, from February 2023 to April 2023, the export prices stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Prices varied noticeably by the country of destination: the country with the highest price was the UK ($2,223 per cubic meter), while the average price for exports to Poland ($181 per cubic meter) was amongst the lowest.

From April 2022 to April 2023, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was recorded for supplies to the UK (+11.0%), while the prices for the other major destinations experienced more modest paces of growth.

Italy Particle Board Export Prices by Type

Prices varied noticeably by the product type; the product with the highest price was wooden particle board ($2,834 per cubic meter), while the average price for exports of oriented strandboard (OSB) ($498 per cubic meter) was amongst the lowest.

From April 2022 to April 2023, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was recorded for the following types: wooden particle board (+3.8%), while the prices for the other products experienced mixed trend patterns.

Italy Particle Board Exports

In April 2023, overseas shipments of particle board decreased by -24.9% to 60K cubic meters for the first time since January 2023, thus ending a two-month rising trend. Over the period under review, exports, however, showed a relatively flat trend pattern. The growth pace was the most rapid in March 2023 with an increase of 68% against the previous month. As a result, the exports reached the peak of 80K cubic meters, and then plummeted in the following month.

In value terms, particle board exports declined to $34M (IndexBox estimates) in April 2023. Overall, exports saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in March 2023 when exports increased by 22% month-to-month. Over the period under review, the exports attained the peak figure at 45M cubic meters in May 2022; however, from June 2022 to April 2023, the exports failed to regain momentum.

Italy Particle Board Exports by Type

Waferboards (55K cubic meters) was the largest type of particle board exported from Italy, with a 91% share of total exports. Moreover, waferboards exceeded the volume of the second product type, oriented strandboard (OSB) (2.9K cubic meters), more than tenfold. Particle board and similar board of ligneous materials (excluding wood) (2.2K cubic meters) ranked third in terms of total exports with a 3.6% share.

From April 2022 to April 2023, the average monthly rate of growth in terms of the volume of export of waferboards amounted to +1.0%. With regard to the other exported products, the following average monthly rates of growth were recorded: oriented strandboard (OSB) (-1.2% per month) and particle board and similar board of ligneous materials (excluding wood) (-0.9% per month).

In value terms, waferboards ($29M) remains the largest type of particle board exported from Italy, comprising 87% of total exports. The second position in the ranking was held by particle board and similar board of ligneous materials (excluding wood) ($2.9M), with an 8.5% share of total exports. It was followed by oriented strandboard (OSB), with a 4.3% share.

From April 2022 to April 2023, the average monthly growth rate of the export volume of waferboards was relatively modest. With regard to the other exported products, the following average monthly rates of growth were recorded: particle board and similar board of ligneous materials (excluding wood) (+0.7% per month) and oriented strandboard (OSB) (-2.7% per month).

Italy Particle Board Exports by Country

Germany (12K cubic meters), France (12K cubic meters) and Poland (6.8K cubic meters) were the main destinations of particle board exports from Italy, together accounting for 52% of total exports.

From April 2022 to April 2023, the most notable rate of growth in terms of shipments, amongst the main countries of destination, was attained by Germany (with a CAGR of +13.2%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, France ($9.9M) remains the key foreign market for particle board exports from Italy, comprising 29% of total exports. The second position in the ranking was taken by Germany ($2.8M), with an 8.2% share of total exports. It was followed by the UK, with a 7.2% share.

From April 2022 to April 2023, the average monthly rate of growth in terms of value to France was relatively modest. Exports to the other major destinations recorded the following average monthly rates of exports growth: Germany (+0.8% per month) and the UK (+10.4% per month).

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform