This is actually one of the most important aspects highlighted by the Inventory of poplar cultivation in Italy presented by Assopanelli. Today 46.00 hectares of cultivated land guarantee a raw material production equal to 1 million cubic meters over an annual demand of over 2 million. To reach the minimum level of industrial self-sufficiency, the cultivated land should be increased to 115,000 hectares, which is more than twice the current area.
The poplar panel supply chain crucially contributes to the growth of the Made-in-Italy industry, with an industrial production exceeding€ 2 billion (6.5 considering the total sector of panels and semi-finished products) and 41,000 employees.
The final 2016 data relating to the panel sector recorded a 3% growth which corresponds to€ 2 billion. This growth results from both the exports and the increase in the domestic demand in the furniture industry, where this trend is confirmed also by the 2017 preliminary data, which show a further growth of 4%.