American hardwoods acquire new market shares

Following the success of the American hardwood pavilion at the 2007 and 2008 events, this year’s edition of Dubai wood show, which ran from 21 to 23 April, according to the organizers saw the largest hardwood delegation from the United States that has ever exhibited at a trade show in the Middle East. This underlines how important the region has become to American hardwood producers in recent years.
Now, more than ever before, American hardwoods are becoming increasingly well-established in the Middle East’s hardwood market and the timing was right for the American hardwood export council (Ahec) to show its commitment to the region’s market and to strengthen ties between Us exporters and Mena region importers, manufacturers and specifiers.
In fact, according to the latest data available from the United States foreign agricultural service, during 2008, total direct exports of American hardwood value-added products (lumber, veneer, flooring & mouldings) to the Mena region grew by 19.6 percent in value, reaching $55.5 million. The principal value-added Us hardwood product exported the region – hardwood lumber – saw an increase in volume of 3.7 percent to 48,698 cubic meters and an increase in value of 3.8 percent to $35.5 million. At the same time, shipments of both hardwood veneer and logs also grew significantly, increasing by 59.7 percent to $18.6 million and by 58.6 percent to $25.5 million (51,547 cubic meters) respectively.