Market Insights
Medium-density fiberboard (MDF) is formed by transforming softwood or hardwood residues into wood fibers and combining the output with wax and resin. In terms of physical properties, MDF mostly consists of wood fibers combined with urea-formaldehyde, water, resin, and paraffin in small quantities. It has a smooth, homogeneous texture with no layers, so splinters or wood grains are not visible. Due to its smoothness, it can be an outstanding substitute for wood veneer. As per density, there are three types of MDF: light, medium, and high. A thick medium-density fiberboard usually has a density of around 700 kg per meter cube. Apart from this, it is also much stronger and denser as compared to particle board.
The MDF market has evolved to become more mature, competitive, and cost-effective. High demand for MDF products is mainly driven by furniture demand due to the rise in population, enhanced lifestyle, and increase in construction activities, which has heavily impacted the MDF manufacturers’ ability to increase their production capacity. The better quality, low price, and environmental friendliness of MDF products outstrip those of other available alternative materials, such as wood products. Low-grade MDFs, which swell after being saturated with water, and MDFs that release carcinogens if kept unsealed, which in turn can lead to allergies and irritation in the eyes and lungs, are some of the factors restraining the growth of the market. Other disadvantages of MDF include the requirement for specialized cutting material and visible shrinkage during low humidity.
By type, the global MDF market is segmented into moisture-resistant MDF, standard MDF, and others such as fire-retardant MDF. Standard MDF is mainly suitable for interior architecture that is not exposed to humidity or moisture, such as common fit-outs and furniture. Moisture-resistant MDF, on the other hand, is appropriate for laboratories, laundries, and bathrooms, i.e., high-moisture areas. In terms of end-user, the global MDF market is subdivided into commercial and residential segments, where the residential sector accounts for the largest market share.
By geography, the global MDF market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. In 2017, Asia-Pacific held the largest market share and was projected to continue to show its dominance in the upcoming years. This growth is mainly driven by China, where several government plans, such as the China Western Development Program and the Plan of Revitalizing Northeast China, which aim to improve living standards, are anticipated to stimulate the furniture industry, renovation, packaging, etc., which involve MDF, and boost the Chinese MDF market in the upcoming years. Asia Pacific is immediately followed by Europe in terms of value and is expected to boost the MDF market in the region. The growth of the European MDF market is mainly attributed to rising construction services that involve MDF. Apart from this, the high demand for furniture fuelled by the growth of flat-pack DIY products since the 20th century is anticipated to grow further in the upcoming years, thus boosting the European MDF market. North America and Latin America are also forecasted to witness significant growth during the forecasted period.
The global medium-density fiberboard (MDF) market is segmented as below:
By Type
- Moisture-Resistant MDF
- Standard MDF
- Others (fire-retardant MDF, etc.)
By Application
By Geography
- North America
- Europe
- Germany
- France
- Italy
- U.K.
- Russia
- Rest of Europe
- Asia-Pacific
- India
- China
- Japan
- Rest of Asia-Pacific
- Latin America
- Brazil
- Mexico
- Rest of Latin America
- Middle East and Africa
- GCC Countries
- South Africa
- Rest of Middle East and Africa
Key players across the global medium-density fiberboard (MDF) market value chain are:
Kronospan, Egger, Greehigh, Yonglin Group, Sunway Forest Products, Yunfu Zhenying Wood Co. Ltd., Clarion Industries, Georgia-Pacific Wood Products, Nelson Pine, Guangxi Fenglin Wood Industry Group, and Guangzhou Huafangzhou Wood, among others,
This report offers the following:
- Assessment of global MDF market trends for the period 2016–2026
- Historical (past) information for 2016 and 2017 and projections with CAGRs from 2018 to 2026, considering 2017 as the base year for the market.
- Market drivers, restraints, future prospects, and competitive analysis (market positioning) of key market players
- Overview of the global MDF market value chain
- Company profile with major information about the key players operating in the global MDF market
- Estimation of the market size in terms of value and volume
