Canada’s advanced wood products processing sector is large and growing. It makes a significant contribution to the Canadian economy through the numerous businesses and enterprises that make up the sector, the large number of people who earn a living working within it, and the wide variety of products produced and sold to customers worldwide. Advanced wood processing is comprised of five sub-sectors – furniture, cabinets, windows and doors, millwork, and factory-build housing and building components. Within
The sector is diverse and includes a substantial number of furniture manufacturers – ranging from household to office furniture, and producing casegoods and ready-to-assemble products. These products have various channels of distribution and ultimately are focused on the final consumer.
Canada’s forests represent the third largest supply of wood-related natural resources worldwide, ensuring a continued source of materials for advanced wood products. The sector serves a sizeable domestic market, but nearly half of its output is focused on export markets. It exports a significant volume of products – mainly to the United States, but also to Japan and smaller volumes to several other markets. The total value of the sector’s manufacturing shipments was estimated at around $17 billion in 2003.