Alternate plywood is now an undisputed plywood substrate in demand across the country again, after a gap of 5 years. The alternate range of plywood was taken over by ‘all poplar grade’ after 2015 mid, with the rise in availability of poplar in northern belts. The Ply Reporter, editions during 2014 and 2015 had predicted and repeatedly mentioned the poplar return, which is now completely over. After 2019, no factory is depending much on poplar logs for making plywood instead the plants are experimenting eucalyptus, all jungle wood, alternate species of any timber with safeda or poplar-safeda combination. Even in southern belts the alternate combination of two species with Eucaly and lany local specie or eucaly plus rubber or Melia or Silver oak is being combined and sold. The species like Neem, Ardu, Semul, Kadamb, Mango etc are also being mixed in name of alternate plywood and being marketed.
Post Covid Era, the plywood industry has seen many\ changes, and demand of economical products have noted to be high but ‘All Poplar Plywood’ are disappeared from the markets. Now trade hardlymentions or asks for ‘full Poplar Plywood’ and this segment has shifted to economical alternate plywood with Okume face Veneer.
Until a year ago, a big chunk of economical grade plywood market dominated by Poplar Ply, contributed to almost 45 percent share of these markets followed by 30 percent of red and white mix. During last 9 months, economical grade Alternate Plywood with a starting price range of Rs 40 onwards is in play. Manufacturers say that it is difficult to offer full Poplar ply at affordable pricing because the price of Poplar timber has been doubled in last 2 years.