Wood Using Industries Of North Carolina

The Upper French Broad watershed in western North Carolina is heavily forested and well populated by a wide variety of forest industries. Products range from lumber and dimension to veneer, particleboard, furniture and paper. In terms of commercial forest area, product values ran about $85 per acre as compared to $5 for the U.S. as a whole. This report suggests that prospects for additional growth and increased use of wood and wood products by the right kinds of industries can expand employment, payrolls, and improve the economy of the region.

In 1999, industrial roundwood output from North Carolina's forests totaled 793 million cubic feet, 9 percent less than in 1997. Mill byproducts generated from primary manufacturers increased 1 percent to 311 million cubic feet. Almost all plant residues were used primarily for fuel and fiber products. Saw logs were the leading roundwood product at 422 million cubic feet; pulpwood ranked second at 272 million cubic feet; veneer logs were third at 61 million cubic feet. The number of primary processing plants declined from 280 in 1997 to 278 in 1999. Total receipts declined 2 million cubic feet to 769 million cubic feet.

In 1994, volume of roundwood products removed from North Carolina's forests totaled 848 million cubic feet-8 percent more than in 1992. Mill byproducts generated from primary manufacturers increased 8 percent to 297 million cubic feet. Almost all of the plant residues were used, mostly for fuel and fiber products. Saw logs and pulpwood were the leading roundwood products at 384 and 359 million cubic feet, respectively; veneer logs were third with 83 million cubic feet. The number of primary processing plants declined from 357 in 1992 to 322 in 1994. Total receipts increased 5 percent to 773 million cubic feet.