Aug 18, 2006. /Lesprom Network/. According to the European plywood federation (FEIC), plywood consumption in the FEIC member states plus Denmark, the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands and Austria rose 1.1% to 6.4 million cubic meters in 2005. Consumption fell in major European plywood consumers, including the UK (the largest consumer, down 3.5% to 1.3 million cubic meters), Germany (down 6.3% to 866 600 cubic meters), Italy (down 0.3%) and France (down 1.8%). These four countries accounted for an aggregate 3.5 million cubic meters (55% of overall consumption). Plywood consumption in the EU fell slightly 0.7% to 6.2 million cubic meters while in Russia more than doubled to 165 000 cubic meters. Consumption in Ukraine (up 39%), Latvia (up 25%) and Estonia (up 52%) showed substantial gains, although from a low level. Plywood production surged 3.3% in FEIC members in 2005, outpacing growth in consumption. The hike in plywood output was contributed by the steep growth in Russia (up 27%), Spain (up 10%) and Ukraine (up 21%), despite declines in Finland (down 3%), Italy (down 6%) and France (down 5.4%). Finland remained Europe’s largest plywood manufacturer with 1.3 million cubic meters in spite of the drop. Tropical ply accounts for only 10% of total production Hardwood plywood rose to 1.8 million cubic meters (excluding Russia) in 2005, accounting for 55% of the plywood production. Softwood plywood production rose 1.9% to 1.1 million cubic meters. In contrast, production of tropical plywood fell 9.1% to 323 900 cubic meters and accounted for only 10% of overall plywood production. Tropical plywood production declined in France (down 5%) and particularly in Italy (down 27%).