Wood · August 18, 2026

Birch plywood is scarce in the US. The Baltics are the solution

The US flooring and furniture industry needs birch plywood, which is practically not produced in North America. Let's look at the numbers.

Why birch plywood specifically

Birch grows in proper industrial volumes only around the Baltic Sea and in Russia. Because Russian plywood is under sanctions, a gap opened in the US market, filled by producers from Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania and Finland. This is not our assessment; the customs records show it: birch plywood shipments from the Baltics to the US run every week.

One large Latvian producer ships steadily one to two containers a week to the US. Each container is about 19 tonnes and an estimated 50 to 80 thousand dollars. We see the same pattern across dozens of suppliers.

Who the buyers are

The typical buyer is not a giant but a mid-sized specialised company: a flooring manufacturer, a maker of furniture components, an outfitter of trailers and vans, a brand of plywood design products. Such companies place three to forty orders a year and switch suppliers when someone makes a better offer.

Our database holds hundreds of such buyers along with information on whom they currently buy from, how much, and at what price level.

Could your product sell in the USA?The first consultation is free: we show the real import numbers for your category and a few sample buyers.

What this means for the Estonian producer

If you produce plywood, veneer or plywood products, you have a rare window right now: demand is proven, the competitor has vanished from the market, and buyers are actively seeking new suppliers. In such a situation, the winner is the one who reaches the right buyer first.

Let's discuss which US buyers best suit your product. The first overview is free.

Let's talk about your export plan

The first consultation is free: together we'll see who in the US already buys your product and how to reach them.