Aug 23, 2010. /Lesprom Network/. Total shipments of lumber, panelboard, pulp and paper manufactured by Alberta Forest Products Association (AFPA) -member companies increased significantly during the 2Q 2010, as compared to the 2Q 2009. The increase is due to the economy beginning to recover and a substantial increase in demand. Prices for lumber increased considerably in April and May before declining over the summer. This means that the sharp upward trend in production and prices will be tempered somewhat over the coming months, the Alberta Forest Products Association said in a statement received by Lesprom Network. Lumber shipments totaled 721.7 million board feet between April and June 2010 with a value of $196.7 million. Part of this production came from the secondary manufacturing sector. Shipments were up 9.02% from 2Q 2009 and 7.77% from 1Q 2010. Panelboard operators produced 294.7 million square feet of 7/16 inch equivalent product in 2Q 2010 valued at $95.5 million. Production was up 14.18% and value was up by 72.71% compared to 2Q 2009. When looking at 2Q 2010 versus 1Q 2010, production was up 36.6 million square feet (14.05%) and value was up $24.6 million (34.7%). The AFPA’s pulp and paper sector total production in the 2Q 2010 was 353,000 air dried metric tonnes (ADMT), down 3.9% from 1Q 2010 and down 11.5% from 2Q 2009. The quarterly value of pulp and paper produced by AFPA mills was $301.9 million versus $398.5 million in the 2Q 2009, a decline of 24.2%. When comparing 2Q 2010 to 1Q 2010, the value of pulp and paper production increased by $17.8 million(6.3%). "We’re cautiously optimistic about the future," said Brady Whittaker, AFPA President and CEO. "Prices have declined in the last couple of months, but the stronger year-to-year demand points to a recovery of the industry." The Alberta Forest Products Association is a private, non-profit industry organization, representing lumber, panelboard, pulp and paper, and secondary manufacturing wood products companies operating in Alberta, Canada.