United States 

Department of 

Agriculture Veneer-Log Production 

Forest Service 

pmc51 irnn and Receipts @ g..,,,m,6s2 in the Southeast, 1988 

Southeastern Forest 

Experiment Station 

Resource Bulletin Cecil C. Hutchins, Jr 

SE-112 
The Author: 

Cecil C. Hutchins, Jr., is a Resource 

Technician, Forest Inventory and 

Analysis, Southeastern Forest Experiment 

Station, Asheville, NC. 

July 1990 

Southeastern Forest Experiment Station 

P.O. Box 2680 

Asheville, North Carolina 28802 
ABSTRACT 

In 1988, almost 1.4 billion board feet of veneer logs were harvested 

in the Southeast, and the region's veneer mills processed approximstety 1.5 billion board feet of logs. Almost 78 percent of veneer-log 

production and 76 percent of veneer-log receipts were softwood. 

There were 79 veneer mills operating in 1988. Soflwood plywood 

was the major product. Almost all of the residues produced by 

veneer mills were used. 

Keywords: Veneer logs, production, receipts, produh, residues. 

Introduction 

Prior to 1960, the veneer industry in the Southeastern 

United States was made up primarily of small mills 

that produced hardwood materials mainly for furniture 

and containers. In the early 1960's, however, technology was developed to convert relatively small 

second-growth logs of southern pines into plywood 

for home construction. Using this technology, many 

large forest-products manufacturing firms established 

softwood plywood plants in the South. By 1970, all 

Southeastern States were producing more softwood 

than hardwood veneer, and most of the softwood 

veneer was being used for plywood. These changes 

were documented in earlier reports prepared by the 

Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Unit at the 

Southeastern Forest Experiment Station. 

This Bulletin describes the Southeast's veneer industry 

as it was in 1988, and it outlines some of the changes 

that occurred over the previous 20 years. Data were 

obtained from a special canvass of the 79 veneer 

mills that were operating in the Southeast in 1988. 

Seventy-one of these mills agreed to participate in 

the special study by supplying information on 

veneer-log receipts, by tree species, products 

manufactured, and disposition of mill residues. 

Information for mills that chose not to participate was 

estimated from data obtained from other sources. 

The volume of veneer logs harvested in the Southeast 

and sent to other regions was estimated by exchanging information with FIA Units at other Forest Sewice 

Experiment Stations. 

Veneer Mlll Profile 

Since the sharp upturn in the softwood plywood 

industry during the midsixties, the number of veneer 

mills has remained fairly constant. The lack of change 

in the number of mills, however, masks a continuing 

shift from small hardwood mills to larger softwood 

plywood plants. The result is a major increase in the 

processing capacity of the veneer industry. 

Florida is the only State where a major decline has 

occurred in the number of mills--from 17 in 1967 to 5 

in 1988. North Carolina has the most mills. It had 30 

of the 79 mills that were operating in the Southeast 

in 1988. 

The future of the veneer industry is difficult to predict 

from the available infohation. Demand for high-qualtty 

hardwood veneers for use in furniture and decorative 

paneling is likely to remain high. The size of that 

portion of the industry is likely to depend primarily 

on availability of suitable hardwood logs. In contrast, 

the future of the softwood plywood industry in the 

Southeast is likely to depend primarily on the demand 

for the product. Chipboard-flakeboard is replacing 

softwood plywood in many construction applications. 

If this trend continues, expansion of the southern 

pine plywood industry will be slow if expansion occurs 

at all. 

Veneer-Log Production and Receipts by 

Species and Product 

In this Bulletin, veneer-log production means the 

harvest of these logs from a State's forests for the 

purpose of veneer manufacture. During 1988, veneerlog production in the Southeast totaled approximately 

1.4 billion board feet (table 1). In that year, veneer-log 

receipts at mills in the Southeast totaled 1.5 billion 

board feet (table 2). The difference between the two 

tntals is explained by an excess of imports from over 

exports to States outside the Southeast. Softwoodand hardwood-log receipts exceeded production by 

4 and 12 percent, respectively (figs. 1 and 2). Most 

softwood veneer-log imports were from Alabama, 

while hardwood imports were from many Eastern 

States. 
Twenty-one major species were used by the region's 

mills in 1988. Southern yellow pine was the predominant species group with 78 percent of the total; 

yellow-poplar had 12 percent, and sweetgum had 5 

percent. All other species accounted for 2 percent or 

less (fig. 3, table 3). Veneer-log receipts were 

approximately the same as log production, varying 

by only 1 or 2 percent per species (fig. 4, table 4). In 

1988, 78 percent of the region's veneer logs were 

used in softwood plywood, 15 percent in hardwood 

plywood. 4 percent in container products, and 3 

percent in face veneer. Veneer-log receipts by product 

are almost the same as log production by product, 

except for 1 percent specialty product (figs. 5 and 

6). 

Veneer-Log Production by State, Species, 

and Product 

During the past 20 years, production of softwood 

veneer logs has increased in all Southeastern States 

except Virginia, where production declined by 25 

percent. Hardwood veneer-log production also 

increased in most Southeastern States with the 

exception of Florida, where a 90-percent decrease 

was recorded. Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina 

had increases of 300 percent or more and North 

Carolina 200 percent in softwood log production. 

Production and receipts of veneer logs were almost 

equal in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina 

during 1988. In comparison, Florida imported 19 

percent more veneer logs than it produced. All logs 

imported were southern yellow pine. Virginia had the 

largest percentage of imported logs, at 37 percent; 

most of these logs were southern yellow pine (tables 

5-1 4). 

Use of Veneer Mill Residues 

Almost all of the residues generated by veneer mills 

were used in 1988 (table 15). There were no unused 

softwood residues--bark, coarse or fine material. In 

contrast, 13 percent of the hardwood bark, 2 percent 

of the hardwood coarse, and 1 percent of the 

hardwood fine material remained unused. For both 

softwood and hardwood bark, industrial fuel was the 

most common use. Softwood and hardwood coarse 

residues, such as cores, were used for pulp chips 

and lumber. Some hardwood was used for industrial 

fuel and other miscellaneous uses. Both softwood 

and hardwood fine residues were used almost 

exclusively for industrial fuel (figs. 7-9). 
Softwood Hardwood 

South 

Carolina 

South 

Carolina 

68.6 

Florida 117.6 lorida 6.8 

North Virginia 45.5 Virginia 38.1 

Carolina 

304 North 

Carolina 

Georgia 335.5 11 4.7 

Figure 1--Veneer-log production in Southeastern States, in million board feet, 1988 

Softwood Hardwood 

South 

Carolina 

lorida 140.6 

Florida 7.5 

Virginia 89.7 Virginia 25.1 

North 

Carolina 

Georgia 335.1 144 Georgia 95.1 

Figure 2.-Veneer-log receipts in Southeaste~ll States, in million board feet. 1988. 
Sweetgum 5% 

Figure 3-Veneer-log production by species. 1988. 

Sweetgum 5% 

Figure 4--Veneer-log receipts by species, 1988. 
plywood 

15% 

Figure 5--Veneer-log production by product, 1988 

Softwood 

plywood Specialty 1% 

76% Container 4% 

Face veneer 3% 

plywood 

Figure 6--Veneer-log receipts by product, 1988. 
Softwood Hardwood 

Industrial C lndustrial 

fuel 99% Misc. 1% fuel 82% Misc. 5% 

Not used 13% 

Figure 7--Use of bark residues generated by the veneer industry in the Southeast, 1988. 

Softwood Hardwood 

Industrial 

products 

43% 

products 

51% 

Figure 8--Use of coarse residues generated by the veneer industry in the Southeast, 1988. 

Soft wood Hardwood 

Figure 9--Use of fine residues generated by the veneer industry in the Southeast, 1988. 
Table l--Veneer-log production in the Southeast, by State and species 

group, 1988 

State Softwood Hardwood Al l 

species 

Thousand board feeta 

Florida 117,579 6,790 124,369 

Georgia 335,334 81,786 417,120 

North Carolina 304,015 114,728 418,743 

South Carolina 270,998 68,566 339,564 

Virginia 

All States 

aInternational 114-inch rule. 

Table 2--Veneer-log receipts in the Southeast, by State and species 

group, 1988 

State Softwood Hardwood A1 1 

species 

Thousand board feeta 

Florida 140,607 7,500 148,107 

Georgia 335,107 95,118 430,225 

North Carolina 282,268 143,965 426,233 

South Carolina 263,452 74,612 338,064 

Virginia 89,729 25,090 114,819 

All States 1,111,163 346,285 1,457,448 

a~nternational 114-inch rule. 
Table 3--Veneer-log production in the Southealt, by ~peciss and product, 1988 

Softwood Hardwood Pace Container Specialty Species A1 1 

plywood plywood veneer veneer veneer products 

Thousand board feeta 

Southern yellow pine 

Other oftw woods 

Ash 

Basswood 

Beech 

Black cherry 

Blackgum 

Black walnut 

Cottonwood 

Elm 

Hickory 

Red oaks 

Soft maple 

Hard maple 

Sweetgum 

Sycamore 

White oaks 

Yellow birch 

Yellow-poplar 

Other hardwoods 

Foreign 

Total apecies 1,073,376 207,214 44,492 58,275 -- 1,383,357 

aInternational 114-inch rule. 

 able 4--veneer-log receipt. in the Southeast, by epecics and product, 1988 

Species Softwood Bardwood Face Container Specialty A1 1 

plywood plywood veneer veneer veneer products 

Thousand board feeta 

Southern yellow pine 1,111,147 -- -- 1,148 -- 1,112,295 

Other eoftwoods 16 -- -- 632 -- 648 

Ash -- 53 1,315 1,969 -- 3,337 

Basswood -- 1,659 -- -- -- 1,659 

Beech -- 1,021 -- 1,081 -- 2,102 

Black cherry -. -- 1,734 98 -- 1,R32 

Blackgum -- 11,640 2,003 8,441 -- 22,084 

Black walnut -- -- 956 -- .- 956 

Cottonwood -- 1,021 -- -- -- 1,021 

Elm -- 1,021 191 587 -- 1,799 

H~ckory -. -- 1,258 97 -- 1,355 

Red oaks -- 7,709 12,107 2,151 -- 21,967 

Soft maple -- 1,298 -- 1,213 -- 2,511 

Hard maple -- 292 1,289 -- 112 1,703 

Sweetgum -- 40,417 7,932 22,669 -- 71,018 

Sycamore -- 3,412 54 543 -- 4,009 

White oak8 -- 6,126 5,168 1,630 -- 12,924 

Yellow birch -- 61 0 17 -- -- 627 

Yellow-poplar -- 154,173 12,901 18,866 122 186,062 

Other hardwoods -- -- 7,303 -- 105 7,408 

Foreign -- 131 -- -- 131 -- 

Total species 1,111,163 230,452 54,359 61,125 349 1,457,448 

aInternational 114-inch rule. 
Iable 5--Veneer-log production in Florida, by apecics and product, 1988 

Species 

~ ~ 

Softwood Hardwood Face Container Specialty All 

plywood plywood veneer veneer veneer products 

Southern yellow pine 

Other softwoods 

Aeh 

Basswood 

Beech 

Black cherry 

Blackgum 

Black valnut 

Cottonvood 

Elm 

Hickory 

Red oaks 

Soft maple 

Hard maple 

Sveetgum 

Sycamore 

White oak8 

Yellow birch 

Yellow-poplar 

Other hardwoods 

Foreign 

Thousand board feet* 

Total species 117,579 950 -- 5,840 -- 124,369 

aInternational 114-inch rule. 

, . Table 6--Veneer-log receipts in Florida, by specie. and product, 1988 

Species Softwood Hardwood Pace Container Specialty A1 1 

plywood plywood veneer veneer veneer products 

Thousand board feeta 

Southern yellow pine 140,607 -- -- -- -- 140,607 

Other softwoods -- -- -- 632 -- 632 

Ash -- -- -- 1,215 -- 1,215 

Basavood -- -- -- -- -- -- Beech -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Black cherry -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Blackgum -- 344 -- 1,215 -- 1,559 

Black walnut -- -- -- -- -- -- Cottormood -- -- -- -- -- -- Elm -- -- -- -- .- -- Hickory -- -- - - -- -- -- Red oaks -- -- -- .- -- -- Soft maple -- -- -- 583 -- 583 

Hard maple -- -- -- -- -- -- Sweetgum -- 917 -- 1,215 -- 2,132 

Sycamore -- -- -- -- -- -- White oaks -- -- -- -- -- -- Yellow birch -- -- -- -- -- -- Yellorpoplar -- 1,379 -- -- -- 1,379 

Other hardwoods -- -- -- -- -- -- Foreign -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Total species 140,607 2,640 -- 4,860 -- 148,107 

aInternational 114-inch rule. 
Table 7--Veneer-log production in Georgia, by species and product, 1988 

Softwood Hardwood Pace Container Specialty Species A1 1 

plywood plywood veneer veneer veneer products 

Thousand board feeta 

Southern yellow pine 

Other softwoods 

Ash 

Basswood 

Beech 

Black cherry 

Blackgum 

Black walnut 

Cottonwood 

Elm 

Hickory 

Red oaks 

Soft maple 

Hard maple 

Sweetgum 

Sycamore 

White oaks 

Yellow birch 

Yellow-poplar 

Other hardwood8 

Foreign 

Total species 335,334 35,639 17,548 28,599 -- 417,120 

aInternational 114-inch rule 

Table 8--Vane==-log receipts in Georgia, by specie8 and product, 1988 

Species Softwood Hardwood Pace Container Specialty A1 1 

plywood plywood veneer veneer veneer products 

Southern yellow pine 

Other softwoods 

Ash 

Basswood 

Beech 

Black cherry 

Blackgum 

Black walnut 

Cottonwood 

Elm 

Hickory 

Red oaks 

Soft maple 

Hard maple 

Sweetgum 

Sycamore 

White oaks 

Yellow birch 

Yellow-poplar 

Other hardwoods 

Thousand board feeta 

Foreign -- -- -- -- .- -- 

Total species 335,107 43,038 17,156 34,924 -- 430,225 

aInternational 114-inch rule. 
Table 9--veneer-log prcduetion in north Carolins, by species and product, 1988 

Species Softwood Hardwood Face Container Specialty A1 1 

plywood plywood veneer veneer veneer products 

Thousand board feet* 

Southern yellow pine 

Other so£ twoods 

Ash 

Basswood 

Beech 

Black cherry 

Blackgum 

Black walnut 

Cottonwood 

Elm 

Eiekory 

Red oaks 

Soft maple 

Bard maple 

Sweetgum 

Sycamore 

White oaks 

Yellow birch 

Yellow-poplar 

Other hardwoods 

Foreign 

Total species 304,015 106,191 3,029 5,508 -- 418,743 

aInternational 114-inch rule. 

Table 10--Veneer-log receipts in north Carolina, by ipccie. and product, 1988 

Species Softwood Hardwood Face Container Specialty A1 1 

plywood plywood veneer veneer veneer products 

Thousand board feeta 

Southern yellow pine 282,268 -- -- -- -- 282,268 

Other softwoods -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Ash -- 53 635 -- -- 688 

Basswood -- 1,659 -- -- -- 1,659 

Beech -- 41 1 -- -- -- 411 

Black cherry -- -- 910 -- -- 910 

Blackgum -- 9,555 -- 446 -- 10,001 

Black walnut -- -- 910 -- -- 910 

Cottonwood -- 411 -- -- -- 411 

Elm -- 411 -- 446 -- -- 85 7 

Hickory -- 910 -- -- -- 910 

Red oaks 5,660 2,347 94 -- 8,101 

Soft maple -- 1,298 -- 446 -- 1,744 

Hard maple -- 292 944 -- -- 1,236 

Sweetgum -- 18,066 -- 446 -- 18,512 

Sycamore -- 1,266 -- 446 -- 1,712 

hlte oaks -- 6,005 2,280 63 -- 8,348 

Yellow birch -- -- -- .- -- -- Yellorpoplar -- 85,323 -- 2,232 -- 87,555 

Other hardwoods -- -- -- -- -- -- Foreign -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Total species 282,268 130,410 8,936 4,619 -- 426,233 

aInteroational 114-inch rule. 
Table ll--Veneer-log production in South Carolina, by epecies ad product, 1988 

Speciee Softwood Hardwood Pace Container Specialty A1 1 

plywood plywood veneer veneer veneer products 

Southern yellow pine 

Other softvoods 

Ash 

Basavood 

Beech 

Black cherry 

Blackgum 

Black walnut 

Cottonwood 

Elm 

Hickory 

Red oaks 

Soft maple 

Hard maple 

Sweetgum 

Sycamore 

White oaks 

Yellov birch 

Yellow-poplar 

Other hardwoods 

Foreign 

Total s~eeies 

Thauaaod board feeta 

aInternationel 114-inch rule. 

Table 12--Vemecr-log receipt. in South Carolina, by mpecies and product, 1988 

Species Softwood Hardwood Pace Container Specialty A1 1 

plywood plywood veneer veneer veneer products 

Southern yellow pine 

Other softwoods 

Ash 

Basavood 

Beech 

Black cherry 

Blackgum 

Black walnut 

Cottonwood 

Elm 

Hickory 

Red aaks 

Soft maple 

Hard maple 

Sveetgum 

Sycamore 

White aaks 

Yellow birch 

Yellow-poplar 

Other hardwoods 

Foreign 

Thousand board feeta 

Total species 263,452 37,974 21,392 15,246 -- 338,064 

a~nternatiunal 114-inch rule. 
Table 13--Vcnccr-1.1 production in Virginia, by species and product, 1988 

Species Softwood Hardwood Face Container Specialty A1 1 

plywood plywood veneer veneer veneer products 

Thousand board feet* 

Southern yellow pine 45,435 -- -- -- .- 45,435 

Other aoftwooda 15 -- -- -- -- 15 

Ash -- 30 336 -- -- 366 

Basewood -- 928 -- -- -- 928 

Beech -- -- -- -- -- -- Black cherry -- -- 215 -- -- 215 

Blackgum -- -- -- 613 -- 613 

Black walnut -- -- 172 -- -- 172 

Cottonwood -- -- -- -- -- -- Elm -- -- -- -- -- -- Hickory -- -- 231 -- -- 231 

Red oaks -- -- 1,667 -- -- 1,667 

Soft maple -- -- - -- -- -- Hard maple -- -- 179 -- -- 179 

Sweetgum -- 1,442 -- 1,704 -- 3,146 

Sycamore -- -- -- -- -- -- 

White oaks -- 120 1,774 -- -- 1,894 

Yellow birch -- -- 14 -- -- 14 

Yellorpoplar -- 26,183 -- 2,493 -- 28,676 

Other hardwoods -- -- 10 -- -- 10 

Foreign -- -- -- -- -- -- s 

Total speeiee 45,450 28,703 4,598 4,810 -- 83,561 

aInternational 114-inch rule. 

Table 14--Veneer-log receipts in Virginia, by mpccic. and product, 1988 

Softwood Hardwood Face Container Specialty A1 1 

plywood plywood veneer veneer veneer products 

Thousand board feeta 

Southern yellow pine 89,713 -- -- -- -- 89,713 

Other softwoods 16 -- -- -- -- 16 

Ash -- -- 518 -- -- 518 

Basswood -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Beech -- -- -- -- -- -- Black cherry -- -- 824 -- -- 824 

Blackgum -- -- -- -- -- -- Black walnut -- -- 46 -- -- 46 

C~ttonwo~d -- -- -- -- -- -- Elm -- -- 29 -- -- 29 

Hickory -- -- 186 -- -- 186 

Red oaks -- -- 2,523 -- -- 2,523 

Soft maple -- -- -- -- -- -- Hard maple -- 122 251 -- 129 -- Sweetgum -- 2,884 -- -- -- 2,884 

Sycamore -- -- -- -- -- -- White oaks -- -- 2,455 -- -- 2,455 

Yellow birch -- -- 17 -- -- 17 

Yellow-poplar -- 13,506 -- 1,476 122 15,104 

Other hardwoods -- -- 17 -- 105 122 

Foreign -- -- 131 -- -- 131 

Total specie8 89,729 16,390 6,875 1,476 349 114,819 

aInternational 114-inch rule. 
Table 15--V.c of residues generated by the veneer industrg in the Boutbc*st 

Residues 

Bark Coarae Pine 

Softwood Hardwood Softwood Hardwood Softwood Hardwood 

- Percent 

Fiber products -- -- 57 51 -- -- 

Particleboard -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Savn product* -- -- 43 17 -- -- 

Industrial fuel 99 82 28 100 94 -- 

Domestic fuel -- -- -- 1 -- -- 

Miscellaneous 1 5 -- 1 -- 5 

Not used -- 13 -- 2 -- 1 

The Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, is dedicated 

to the principle of multiple use management of the Nation's 

forest resources for sustained yields of wood, water, forage, 

wildlife, and recreation. Through forestry research, cooperation 

with the States and private forest owners, and management of 

the National Forests and National Grasslands, it strives-as 

directed by Congress-to provide increasingly greater service 

to a growing Nation. 

USDA policy prohibits discrimination because of race, color, 

national origin, sex, age, religion, or handicapping condition. 

Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated 

against in any USDA-related activity should immediately contact 

the Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250. 
Hutchlns, Cecil C., Jr., 1990. Veneer log production and receipts in the I Hutchlns, Cecll C., Jr., 1990. Veneer log production and receipts in the I 

Southeast, 1988. Resour. Bull. SE-112. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of 1 Southeast, 1988. Resour. Bull. SE-112. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of I 

Agriculture, Forest Service, Southeastern Forest Experiment Station. I Agriculture, Forest Service, Southeastern Forest Experiment Station. I 

15 PP. 1 15pp. 87 

I 

I I 

In 1988, almost 1.4 billion board feet of veneer logs were harvested in the I In 1988, almost 1.4 billion board feet of veneer logs were harvested in the I 

Southeast, while 1.5 billion board feet were processed. Softwood account- I Southeast, while 1.5 billion board feet were processed. Softwood account- I 

ed for almost 78 percent of production and for 76 percent of receipts. ed for almost 78 percent of production and for 76 percent of receipts. I 

There were 79 veneer mills operating in 1988. Softwood plywood was a I There were 79 veneer mills operating in 1988. Softwood plywood was a I 

major product. Nearly all the residues were used. ! major product. Nearly all the residues were used. I I 

Keywords: Veneer logs, production, receipts, products, residues. ' I Keywords: Veneer logs, production, receipts, products, residues. I 

I I 

I 
Southeastern Forest 

Experiment Station 

Established 1921 

The Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, headquartered in Asheville, North 

Carolina, is one of the eight reg~onal Experiment Stations, and the Forest Products 

Laboratory, that make up the Forest Service research organization. 

RESEARCH MISSION: 

To acquire the knowledge, develop the technology, and disseminate the research 

findings required to manage the Southeast's forest resources in ways that satisfy 

demands of goods and services while maintaining a quality environment. 

RESEARCH LOCATIONS: EXPERIMENTAL FORESTS: 

Blacksburg, VA 

Research Triangle Park, 

Franklin, NC 

Clernson, SC 

Charleston. SC 

Athens, GA 

Macon, GA 

OlusteeiGainesville, FL 

Chipola, Marianna, FL 

Holt Walton, Vienna, GA 

Cowetta, Otto, NC 

Bent Creek, Asheville, NC 

Santee. Moncks Corner, SC 

Scull Shoals, Athens. GA 

Hitchiti, Juliette, GA 

Olustee. Olustee, FL