Plywood and Wood Panels

How plywood, MDF and particleboard became the main materials for Indian furniture, the role of Century Ply and Greenply, and the shift to engineered wood.

Plywood and panels are key furniture materials.

Types

Plywood: layered wood sheets.
MDF: medium-density fibreboard.
Particleboard.

Brands

Century Ply, Greenply and others lead the organised market.

Unorganised

Much plywood is made by small unbranded units, especially in Yamunanagar in Haryana.

Engineered wood

MDF and particleboard are growing because they use plantation wood and are cheaper.

Wood supply

Plantation trees like poplar and eucalyptus supply much timber.

Quality

BIS standards now cover plywood.

The poplar farmer

A farmer in Haryana grows poplar trees and sells them to Yamunanagar plywood units.

Thinking furniture is mostly solid wood

Engineered wood dominates.

Key takeaways

Plywood, MDF and particleboard are key.
Century Ply and Greenply lead.
Yamunanagar is a plywood hub.
Plantation wood supplies timber.