Review of Belarusian birch plywood mills
The Belarusian woodworking sector was renovated about 5 years ago. After a long period of investments, the government received several new MDF mills on the basis of old Soviet plywood factories. Where does baltic birch plywood come from? The facts for those mills are summarized below.
One of the oldest mills in Belarus is situated in Gomel (MDF plant is in Rechitsa), which is about 3.5 hours by car from Minsk, produces furniture, MDF (2800*2070 mm), and MR birch plywood 1525x1525 mm or 5*5".
Mainly specialized in low grades for the European market. Total production is about 3000 m3/month. All plywood is mixed birch/alder core and has CARB2 and FSC certificates. (FSC has been suspended as of May 20, 2022.)
2. JSC "FanDOK"
The mill is situated in Bobruisk, about 1.5 hours by car from Minsk. FanDOK produces edge-glued panels from pine, birch, and oak, MR plywood 5*5. The volume of produced plywood is around 3500 – 4000 m3/month. The primary grades are BB/C, BB/BB, CP/C, and C/C. JSC "FanDOK" can make plywood with birch veneer faces and birch or alder cores specifically for US customers. It has CARB2 and FSC certificates. (FSC has been suspended from May 2022).
The mill is situated in Mosty, about 3.5 hours by car from Minsk. Mostovdrev produces MDF (2800*2070 mm), MR plywood 5*5, WBP plywood in 1250*2500, and filmed plywood in 1250*2500. The volume of produced plywood is around 3000 m3/month for 5*5, around 1000 m3/month for WBP, and around 1000 m3/month for filmed-faced plywood. The main grades for 5*5 plywood are BB/C and CP/C with C/C. For WBP plywood, only short grain, 1250*2500 mm, with grades Cp/C and C/C. All plywood is mixed birch and alder and has CARB2 and FSC certificates (FSC has been suspended from May 2022)
The mill is situated in Borisov, about 1 hour by car from Minsk. Borisovdrev produces MDF (4*8 and 4*10 in thicknesses of 2-4 mm), MR plywood (5*5), and the volume of produced plywood is around 2500 m3/month for 5*5. All plywood is mixed birch and alder and has CARB2 and FSC certificates. (FSC has been suspended from May 2022)
The mill is situated in Rechitsa, about 3.5 hours by car from Minsk. Rechitsadrev produces chipboard (1830*2750 mm), MR plywood in sizes of 1525x1525 mm or 5*5". The volume of produced plywood is around 4500 m3/month. All plywood is mixed birch and alder and has CARB2 and FSC certificates. (FSC has been suspended from May 2022).