Economic output by Alberta’s forest sector grew in 2015, marking the fourth consecutive year of increases, said the Alberta Forest Products Association Monday. The forestry sector saw the value of its products rise by 5 per cent – or $150 million – last year, following growth of 8 per cent in 2014, 14 per cent in 2013, and 9 per cent in 2012.
Lumber, pulp and paper, and panelboard manufactured by AFPA members in 2015 was valued at approximately $3 billion. The most signficant gains came from pulp and paper, which grew 16 per cent. Panel also had a strong year, with 7 per cent growth. Lumber production values declined by 5 per cent.
AFPA Results 2015
Alberta Forests Products Association-member companies produced 3.5 billion board feet of lumber in 2015 with a value of $1.2 billion, the agency said Monday. Part of this production came from the secondary manufacturing sector. Com- pared to 2014, production volume in– creased by 189 million board feet (5.7 per cent), but weaker lumber prices caused values to decline by $66 million or 5 per cent.
AFPA-member panelboard opera– tors produced 1.1 billion square feet of 7/16 inch equivalent product in 2015 valued at $388 million. Compared to 2014, production increased by 7 million square feet (0.6 per cent), and significantly stronger prices caused values to increase by $27 million or 7.4 per cent.