American Hardwood Export Council, 16 U.S. exporters plan presence at 2012 Dubai Wood Show after value of U.S. hardwood log, lumber and veneer imports to UAE reaches US$14.7M in first nine months

Wendy Lisney

DUBAI, UAE , December 5, 2011 (press release) – The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), the leading international trade association for the American hardwood industry, has announced its participation in next year’s edition of the Dubai International Wood and Wood Machinery Show (Dubai WoodShow), which will be held from April 3 - 5, 2012 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC). AHEC’s participation at the event is centered on the move to reinforce trade ties with the rapidly developing wood and wood processing industry whilst promoting the increased usage of American hardwoods across the many ongoing construction, interior design and furniture projects across the region. The 2012 edition of Dubai WoodShow will also be made more significant with the participation of 16 key U.S. hardwood exporting companies and the Hardwood States Export Group (HSEG), which is a collation of 13 major US hardwood exporting states, under the banner of the American Hardwood Pavilion.

The UAE has positioned itself as an integral player for American hardwoods in the Middle East and North African (MENA) markets, ably serving as a central wood processing and redistribution hub for countries both within and outside the region. Testament to the country’s emergence as the largest market for American hardwoods in the MENA region, AHEC has revealed that a total of over USD 14.7 million worth of American hardwood logs, lumber and veneers entered the country during the first three quarters of 2011. Of this total, USD 7.3 million was accounted for by lumber, USD 5.7 million by logs and USD 1.7 million by veneers. In terms of species, American red oak dominated total imports with over USD 2.5 million worth of shipments during the first nine months of 2011. Additionally, imports of American ash and walnut reached USD 1.4 million and USD 1.2 million respectively. Given the positive demand for American hardwoods, AHEC is looking to leverage its presence at the Dubai WoodShow to further increase knowledge and exposure of American hardwoods to the UAE and wider Middle East audience.

“We are pleased to announce our participation at the 2012 edition of the Dubai WoodShow, which is widely known as the region’s only dedicated wood and wood machinery exhibition,“ said Roderick Wiles, AHEC Director for Africa, Middle East, India and Oceania. “We are very upbeat with the increased demand of American hardwoods in the Middle East in general and the UAE in particular. This just shows the effective results of our continuing move to champion the usage of American hardwood across the many ongoing projects here, as our target audiences are now more aware of the exceptional qualities and advantages of using it as a material of choice.”

Aiming to increase its presence in this segment, AHEC has run a comprehensive outreach campaign that aims at promoting the benefits and advantages of the resource whilst also highlighting its environmental credentials. With the region demonstrating a healthy appetite for American hardwoods, U.S. hardwood exporters have now taken a more active role in the UAE’s wood and wood processing market, maintaining a key presence in industry-related activities like Dubai WoodShow 2012 and other industry-centric events. The 16 participating U.S. hardwood companies are Northland Corporation, American Hardwood Industries, Wheeland Lumber, Nina Company, Sonoking Corporation, Shannon Lumber International, Buchanan Hardwoods, Bridgewell Resources, Northland Forest Products, Classic American Hardwoods, Allegheny Wood Products, American Lumber, Baillie Lumber, Frank Miller Lumber, Kretz Lumber, and Roy Anderson Lumber. In addition, HSEG and the Wood Component Manufacturers Association (WCMA) will also be participating.

“We have always looked forward to taking part in the annual Dubai WoodShow event, which allows us the opportunity to meet industry players and professionals and share more knowledge on the wide array of commercially available species and products. Not only do we get to promote American hardwoods to the event’s participants and visitors but we also get to share the strong environmental credentials they carry,” concluded Wiles.

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