INVERNESS, UK — West Fraser’s OSB business in Europe continues to experience better demand in 2024, but MDF and particleboard are registering softer demand, the company says in its most recent Q2 update. “While inflation appears to have stabilized, near-term risks, including relatively high interest rates, ongoing geopolitical developments and the lagged impact of prior inflationary pressures may adversely impact future demand for our panel products in the UK and Europe,” West Fraser said. West Fraser’s global sales (including lumber) were US$1.705bn, with adjusted EBITDA of US$272m. The European engineered wood products segment recorded adjusted EBITDA of US$6m, while the North American engineered wood products division posted EBITDA of US$308m. In the Europe EWP segment, West Fraser continues to expect soft near-term demand for its panel products, with 2024 shipments of MDF, particleboard and OSB expected to be similar or slightly better than 2023 levels.