New ITTO publication enhances accuracy in tropical plywood trade reporting

The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) has released a landmark study, Tropical Veneer and Plywood: Description, Properties and Conversion Factors, authored by Frances Maplesden and Hamish Pearson. This publication marks a significant advancement in improving the accuracy of reported trade volumes of tropical plywood through better conversion factors in order to enhance transparency of the global trade of tropical wood products.

Building on earlier ITTO work on tropical log and sawnwood conversion factors, as well as broader research on forest products by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), this new analysis addresses a critical gap in the trade reporting of tropical veneer and plywood. Specifically, the study derives theoretical conversion factors (CFs) to translate trade data from weight to volume and from square metres to volume, tailored by species and major tropical exporting countries.

“Understanding the true volume of tropical plywood being traded is essential for transparency and sustainability in the wood products sector,” said Frances Maplesden, ITTO consultant and co-author of the report. “Plywood is a complex, multilayered product, and its composition varies widely by species, density, and even manufacturing processes. This study helps unpack that complexity.”
 

For over 30 years, ITTO’s trade database has relied on a single conversion factor for all tropical plywood. However, growing evidence suggests this simplification masks significant variation. Wood, being hygroscopic, changes in density with moisture, and plywood's multi-species composition, adhesives, and manufacturing compression add further complexity.

The publication reveals that "one size fits all" conversion factors are no longer suitable. For example, Malaysian plywood often comprises 100% mixed light hardwoods, whereas plywood from Gabon may use lower-density okoume (Aucoumea klaineana). Moreover, many tropical plywood products now feature plantation-grown species like eucalyptus, acacia, and poplar in core layers, covered by a thin tropical veneer. This evolution has shifted the density profiles of plywood and challenges assumptions used in global trade reporting.

Key highlights from the study include the development of a new methodology and an accompanying database to estimate plywood volumes based on weight, taking into account species composition. This advancement allows for significantly improved accuracy in volume estimates, which in turn supports more reliable and transparent trade statistics. 

Veneer sheets Wood and Plywood Museum, Shin-Kiba, Koto City, Tokyo. Photo: Jean-Christophe Claudon

The study also lays a strong foundation for more informed decision-making by policymakers, industry stakeholders, and sustainability initiatives working to enhance the accountability and sustainability of the tropical timber trade.

“This study represents an important step towards improving knowledge on the technical composition of tropical plywood and the transparency of tropical timber trade data,” said ITTO Executive Director Sheam Satkuru. “Reliable data underpins sustainable forest management, fair trade, and accountability across global supply chains. We are proud to support this vital research.”

The publication is now available on the ITTO website, where stakeholders can explore the methodology and access the newly developed conversion factor database. ITTO encourages policymakers, industry actors, and researchers to leverage this tool to enhance the integrity of international timber trade data.