Import/Export Wood Purchasing News - February/March 2024

IMPORT/EXPORT
www.woodpurchasingnews.com
Vol.50 No.4 Serving Forest Products Buyers Worldwide FEBRUARY/MARCH 2024
Exports Tumble In 2023, But 2024
Holds Promise
Michael Snow
By Graham Sweeney
Tripp Pryor
With U.S. lumber exports currently down millions of board feet in traditionally
large markets like China and Canada, members of the American Hardwood
Export Council (AHEC) remain encouraged by growth from smaller buyers like
Vietnam, the Middle East, India and Europe.
Michael Snow, executive director of AHEC, recently noted at an end-of-year
membership meeting that America’s wood industry wasn’t having “a banner year”
through the third quarter of 2023.
“I think it is important to look at where we are,” he added. “Hopefully we will
see a little claw back. The story is not an overly positive one.”
Tripp Pryor, the international program manager for AHEC, presented an “export
stat update” for those in attendance.
Continued on page 17
IWPA Looks To Make 2024 The Best Year Yet
By Ashley Amidon,
CAE
Executive Director
International
Wood Products
Association
Alexandria, VA
(703)820-7807 (c)
www.iwpawood.org
As we embark on 2024 in earnest (after what I
hope was a restful holiday break for Import/Export
Wood Purchasing News readers) IWPA is focused
on building upon the successes of 2023 and making
2024 our best year yet as an association.
As I’m writing this in early January, registrations
for IWPA’s 2024 World of Wood Convention (April
10-12 at the Hard Rock Hotel in beautiful San
Diego, California) are trending way ahead of any
convention in over a decade. Sure, some of us may
be looking forward to escaping winter for sunny
southern California, but I strongly believe that
some of that has to do with the way we as an association
are working to proactively address the many
challenges our industry is facing and that folks are
excited to learn more about our efforts.
I visited more than 50 IWPA members in 2023
and what struck me most is how excited the industry
is for where the association is going.
This momentum is apparent in our advocacy on
behalf of our industry both in Washington, D.C. and
around the world. As part of our end of 2023 stock
taking, we counted up our hill meetings and rang up
a total of 165! But it’s not just the quantity of meetings,
but the quality – each of these meetings had a
purpose to develop a new relationship or deepen an
existing one.
In addition to our annual Washington, D.C. Fly-
In, in 2023 we hosted IWPA members who made
specific trips to Washington to educate policymakers about how policy debates
like the ongoing lapse of the Generalized System of Preferences program impact
businesses in their states and districts. We are also exploring new ways to get
policymakers to visit member facilities when they are in their districts as part of
helping policymakers understand how our industry works.
Outside Washington, I have had the privilege of serving as an Observer to the
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum’s Experts Group on Illegal Logging
and Associated Trade (APEC EGILAT) and the International Timber Trade
Organization (ITTO). My participation in these meetings has helped me deepen
relationships with policymakers around the globe and share our industry’s perspective
on policies affecting trade in wood products.
Beyond our policy work we continue to serve our members by increasing our
educational offerings through a significant APHIS grant. By the time you read
this article, we will have FREE online education for anyone impacted by the
Lacey Act, whether they are an IWPA member or not. I am proud to help share
the expertise within IWPA through our many educational offerings both online
and in-person.
All of this work would not be possible without the generosity of so many
IWPA Board and Committee members who volunteer their time and knowledge
to help us ensure our advocacy, education, and programming is as effective
as possible in addressing the challenges we all face. I hope you will consider
joining us in these efforts in 2024, and I would love to chat with you about how
you can do so.
As April approaches, we hope you will register to join us in San Diego for
World of Wood 2024. We can’t wait to see so many friends and colleagues at the
one event each year that brings the whole industry together! n
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Bruce Dahn is the
kiln-dried sales manager
at HHP Inc., located in
Henniker, NH. HHP is a
hardwood sawmill that
services North America,
Canada, Europe, China,
Vietnam and the Middle
East. HHP produces
13 million board feet
annually and offers
green and kiln-dried
Bruce Dahn northern hardwoods.
Species produced include
Northern Red Oak, Hard and Soft Maple, Ash
and Yellow Birch in thicknesses of 4/4-7/4, in custom
and proprietary widths, lengths and grade sorts.
Dahn has been in the forest products industry for
over 40 years. He first started out in the industry as
a teenager working at his father’s pallet and crating
business in Rome, NY. After he graduated from State
University of New York College of Environmental
Science and Forestry in 1987, with a Bachelor of
Science degree in Wood Products Engineering, he
went on to work for Rex Lumber for 14 years and
then North Pacific Group for over 10 years. He has
been with HHP as the kiln-dried sales manager for 13
years.
Dahn enjoys woodworking, fishing and tending to
his property in upstate New York. He is married to
Mary Kay Day and has two sons, one daughter, one
Who’s Who in Import/Exports
Matt Yest is the
lumber sales manager
at Kendrick Forest
Products, located in
Edgewood, Muscatine
and Vinton,
IA. Kendrick Forest
Products is a hardwood
sawmill that has
kiln drying operations
on site. The company
Matt Yest offers green lumber,
kiln-dried lumber,
industrial hardwood products and logs throughout
the United States and around the world.
Kendrick Forest Products produces 17 million
board feet annually between their two sawmills
and produces lumber in thicknesses of 4/4-8/4 in
Walnut, Red and White Oak, Hard and Soft Maple,
Hickory, Cherry, Ash, Basswood and Red and Grey
Elm. They offer green lumber, kiln-dried lumber
rough or surfaced, as well as railroad ties and pallet
cants.
Kendrick Forest Products offers standard NHLA
grades and some proprietary grades. In addition
to their standard Walnut grades, they have started
to produce Walnut graded under Oak rules that is
sorted 90/70 heartwood and Better that is sawn
from veneer logs.
Parker Dukas is
the sales coordinator
and export salesman
for Europe and Asia
at Abenaki Timber,
located in Epping, NH
and Belington, WV.
Abenaki is a concentration
yard that
purchases 15 million
board feet annually to
Parker Dukas ship globally. They offer
Northern Red Oak,
Yellow Birch, White Oak, Hard and Soft Maple,
Northern and Appalachian Cherry, White Ash, Yellow
Poplar and American and European Beech.
Abenaki’s facility is equipped with a Newman
high speed helical planer, on site hardwood lumber
inspection services, container loading, custom
sorting and packaging, warehousing and storage
options as well as package tallies with bar coding
capabilities.
Dukas has been with Abenaki for five years and
has spent three years in his current position and has
experience as a lumber grader. While this is his first
job in the forest products industry, he has a lifetime
of experience in Maple syrup production in Northern
Vermont.
Dukas went to Bellows Free Academy in St. Al-
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
FEATURES:
FEATURES:
Tecno Mueble ........................... 1
AWFS Fair.................................... 1
U.S. Lumber Exports................... IWPA
Classic
in 2024................................
American Hdwds ...........
1
4
Elephant Rainey Millworks Lumber......................... 45
Edensaw Woods Ltd.................... 5
DEPARTMENTS:
Transportation Survey................ 6
Who's Who in Import/Exports ... 2
AHEC Column ............................. 2
DEPARTMENTS:
IWPA Column .............................. 3
Who's Washington Who Import/Exports........... Scene ..................... 26
AHEC Column..................................... 2
Washington
Business Trends
Scene.............................
USA ................
3
7
Business Canadian Trends....................... USA........................ 14 8
Canadian Business Trends.............................. Abroad ..........16 12
Business Trends Abroad..................14
Memoriam...................................25
Memoriam..........................................28
Stock Exchange ...................27-28
Stock Exchange........................... 30-31
Newswires..........................................33
..................................29
Index of of Advertisers......................... 38 34
IMPORT/EXPORT
A Busy (Policy) Fall for the Industry
WASHINGTON REPORT
If there are two constant refrains IWPA hears from the industry, it’s about increases in delays they
are experiencing at our ports of entry and GSP. Both issues tie back to Congress - although in
International Trade different Commission ways. Rules In Favor Of Antidumping And Countervailing
GSP is Duty perhaps On the Canadian simplest problem Softwood because it Lumber already has an easy solution. The Generalized
System of Preferences (GSP)–established in 1974, it promotes economic development by eliminating
published duties on thousands on www. of products when imported from designated beneficiary countries and
(This article was originally
Lesprom.com.) territories. It also benefits American companies and consumers, as it allows businesses to receive
a duty-free rate on specific products which then undergo further manufacturing here in the United
Please By Ashley note: The Amidon, recent U.S. States, International providing jobs Trade to Americans, Commission
action CAE comes under the tunately five-year for (sunset) many years review GSP process has been in a cycle of expiring, having to wait a year or more before
and ensuring that consumers have the best choices. Unfor-
required Executive by the Uruguay Director Round being Agreements reauthorized Act. retroactively. The Commission’s
International public report Certain money Softwood they Lumber hope to Products receive but from can’t count on. IWPA has always been a proponent of GSP, and
This is repeated in a frustrating cycle that leaves businesses with
Canada Wood will Products contain the views now of the during Commission the longest and lapse informa-
the program’s history, we continue to ask Congress to take this
tion developed Association during the reviews. important The report issue up. became Our hope available is that by the time this article goes to print, Congress will have settled
January Alexandria, 17, 2024; VA it may be
(703)820-7807 (c)
with accessed priorities on the they USITC will website. deal with in end-of-year packages and that GSP is among them.
www.iwpawood.org The second issue is more complicated. IWPA staff receives frequent calls from companies who
The U.S. International Trade are Commission frustrated with (ITC) extended has ruled Lacey 4-0 Act The holds ITC at examined ports. While and the found delays, that which improvements extend for in several the U.S.
in favor of the domestic industry weeks that or often dumped months and at subsidized a time, are softwood frustrating lumber enough industry, on their own, such too as often increases they result in production, in costly
lumber imports from Canada demurrage continue to fees be a that threat into the or U.S. eliminate capital any investments, profit the importer and employment, could hope were to book related on a to shipment the antidumping
between and the agencies countervailing as they seek duty to orders. learn the The nature ITC also of the de-
industry. This means the antidumping of wood products. and countervailing Importers are duty bounced
orders on Canadian softwood lumber will remain in place, said
termined that the continuation or recurrence Continued of dumping on page and 18
U.S. Lumber Coalition in a statement.
Continued on page 27
Quality Everything
By Michael Snow,
Executive Director
American Hardwood
Export Council
Sterling, VA
703-435-2900
www.ahec.org
Continued on page 18
Continued on page 18
AHEC And Disegno Launch Season 4 Of Words On Wood Podcast
The award-winning podcast Words on
Wood is returning for its fourth season.
This season delves even deeper into the world
of wood, featuring unexpected and timely topics
from across forestry, architecture and design,
as well as the introduction of new, bitesized
‘Making Shorts’, which shine a light on
different production techniques for designing
and building with timber.
Venturing into the world’s forests, sites of
timber production, and design and architecture
studios, the podcast examines how these industries
intersect through material. Each episode is
structured around interviews with leading architects,
designers, educators, manufacturers, and
forestry professionals who live amongst and
care for trees on a day-to-day basis.
The fourth season launches with an in-depth
exploration of an often overlooked and misunderstood
timber product: veneer. Featuring
contemporary designers Jorge Penadés and Rio
Kobayashi, as well as Cathy Lynn Danzer of
timber manufacturer Danzer, the episode explores
the design potential of this thinly sliced
material and how a new generation of practitioners are
pushing it in experimental and playful directions.
Returning to the classroom, the season’s second episode
explores what is missing in architectural education
when it comes to wood. While timber is a common building material, each species
offers different properties - are architects provided with sufficient information
about these varied materials in their training? This episode brings together educators
Kenn Busch, Hanif Kara and Izaskun Chinchilla Moreno to discuss how to
develop more rigorous timber curriculums.
Introducing Making Shorts
Photo By Tv2 Norge Tid For Hjem
Continued on page 18
Building on the success of previous seasons’ ‘Tree Shorts’, this season introduces
a new series of ‘Making Shorts’. These bite-sized episodes zoom into production
techniques for timber, providing concise case studies through interviews with designers
on the making processes behind specific projects.
Travelling to Australia, the first Making Short of the season focuses on CNC
milling, tracing its connections to traditional hand carving methods. Designer Trent
Jansen and Tanya Singer and Errol Evans, First Nations woodworkers and artists,
explain how they employed high-tech milling machines to create a series of sculptural
furniture that tell stories about the climate crisis.
Other highlights include Anna Maria Øfstedal Eng speaking about creating furniture
with a chainsaw, and Inma Bermudez and Moritz Krefter reflecting on how
making-by-hand opens up possibilities for working with waste timber.
Words on Wood is developed by the American Hardwood Export Council
(AHEC) in conjunction with Disegno, the international journal of design.
You can listen and subscribe to Words on Wood on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or
Continued on page 18
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Import/Export Wood Purchasing News n October/November 2023 Page 3
Import/Export Wood Purchasing News n February/March 2024 Page 3

Diverse Hardwood Lumber and Lumber Products at Edensaw Woods Ltd.
By Michelle Keller
“In this industry, you have to know about the products
you’re selling. We have knowledge of the products, where
they are going, and the applications they are being used
in. We offer a wide variety of services, specializing in
custom millwork, CNC design and manufacturing
and delivery.”
~ Buster Ferris, Vice President, Edensaw Woods Ltd.
Team members at one of the kilns in Gabon.
Durable products, sustainable sourcing and well-planned execution are some of
the hallmarks of Elephant Lumber that have led to the company’s success in the
overseas market.
With tropical woods currently being shipped to Asia, Europe, North America
and South America, the company, a part of Trinity Hardwoods, is methodically
looking to grow its footprint in the U.S.
While Elephant Lumber is a “relatively new company in the U.S.,” Sales
Managers Tom Gallagher and Charles Gao said that the Hayward, CA based
business is “not in a rush to grow.”
“We want to settle into the market and become a trustworthy partner to the
North American companies,” Gallagher noted. “Success can only be achieved
through continuous effort.”
The company’s products, including rough sawn lumber, finished decking, prefi-
Elephant Lumber workers cut sap off the wood.
Gabon Sawmills Open Up US Sales Office
By Terry Miller
“We want to settle into the market and become a trustworthy partner to the North American companies as THE African
source for hardwood lumber.”
~ Tom Gallagher, Sales Manager for Elephant Lumber
One of a dozen company loaders handles logs.
nished and unfinished hardwood floors, are known for their durability and can be
used as a “cheaper alternative to a lot of the South American species,” according
to Gallagher.
Currently, the company ships products via sea freight to European countries
like Italy, Belgium, France, Portugal and the Netherlands; Asian countries such as
Malaysia, India, China, the Philippines and Vietnam; South American countries
like Brazil and Panama; and the Dominican Republic in North America.
Customers range from end users, such as furniture and millwork manufacturers,
to wholesalers.
“Our lumber is flat, straight, heavy and properly dried,” Gallagher said. “Our
customers and partners know that we provide a consistent, high-quality product
to the marketplace time-after-time with no surprises. Consistency is key.”
Continued on page 22
Founder and owner Jim “Kiwi” Ferris President of Edensaw Woods stands with his son
Buster Ferris VP
Port Townsend, WA, is home
to hardwood lumber and lumber
products supplier Edensaw Woods
Ltd. With a wide selection of products,
current Vice President Buster
Ferris said they carry around
100 species of domestic and exotic
species. “Aside from that, we
specialize in marine and cabinet
grade plywood, rough and surfaced
lumber, wood veneer, hardwood
flooring and specialty decking,” he
explained. “Our selection of slabs
are second to none in terms of
range of selection and quality and
is one of the largest in the Pacific
Northwest.”
Ferris said he is currently purchasing
500,000 board feet annually
in Alder, Ash, Beech, Cherry,
Hickory, Walnut and Hard and
Soft Maple. In addition, he also
purchases about 500,000 board
feet in imported woods including
European Beech, Bubinga, Jatoba,
Spanish Cedar and Meranti. Additionally,
100 semi-loads a year
of plywood products come from
various sources.
Edensaw Woods was founded
by Buster's dad, Jim Ferris, and
his now deceased business partner
Charlie Moore with the initial goal
to provide specialty hardwoods
to the local Port Townsend and
Olympic Peninsula boat-building
community.
Today the company is preparing
to celebrate its 40th anniversary.
“As Edensaw grew, our product
offering continued to increase,”
Buster offered. “We now offer an
assortment of shop and hand tools,
craft and turning woods, live edge
slabs, specialty burls, high quality
veneers, marine and cabinet grade
plywoods, and, of course, plenty of
hardwoods.”
As for what sets the company
apart from others and has kept the
company in business for almost
four decades, Buster said his staff are key. The knowledge, customer service and
pride for what they do set them apart. “In this industry, you have to know about
the products you’re selling. We have knowledge of the products, where they are
Continued on page 24
Page 4 Import/Export Wood Purchasing News n February/March 2024
Import/Export Wood Purchasing News n February/March 2024 Page 5

Lumber Shipping Companies Are Cautiously Optimistic As Traditional Trends Return
Lumber shipping companies saw that their trends year over year have begun
to revert back to how traditional markets have been in the past, but they hold
a cautious optimism as geopolitical factors can easily affect the supply chain
strategies. One shipper noted, “We slowly saw the industry normalize over the last
12 months and it is back to pre-pandemic levels. I do not foresee any substantial
increases in our export shipments over the next 12 months.”
Despite seeing their markets slowly return to the traditional trends, a lumber
shipper remarked, “Asking me to predict shipping volumes in the first quarter of
2024 is akin to throwing spaghetti at the wall and seeing ‘what sticks.’”
A shipper stated, “The only constant across all industries is that margins are
being squeezed. Going into the New Year, we can all be hopeful that the economy
starts to pick back up, but I am not sure that is what we will see.”
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Peter Lovett
King City Forwarding USA, Inc.
Chesapeake, VA
As we sail into 2024, the ocean transportation
industry is experiencing a sea change in trends that
are reshaping the way goods are moved across the
globe. These shifts are not only altering the dynamics
of maritime commerce but also necessitating innovative
strategies to address supply chain challenges.
I would characterize 2023 as the “correction” year
Peter Lovett in the ocean freight market where we saw significant
reductions in export and import freight rates across
all trades. There was an overall decline in ocean freight demand globally caused
by a slower economy, as governments across the world managed inflation. Overall,
the supply chain experienced better fluidity in 2023, with the alleviation of
port congestion on the East and West coast, which resulted in more reliable shipping
schedules. Even with ports clear of congestion, service reliability remains an
issue, not having reverted to pre-COVID levels. Due to overcapacity and carriers’
aggressive response, it will likely
not return to normal levels in 2024.
Global container ship scheduled
reliability stood at 64.4 percent in
October, up from 51.8 percent a
year earlier and approximately 35
percent in 2021. The October figure
was still 15 percentage points below
2019 levels, and with no sign
of improvement since May, according
to Sea-Intelligence Maritime
Analysis. To manage the impact of
overcapacity primarily driven by
the influx of newly ordered vessels
entering the market, carriers are
pulling out all the tricks to absorb
capacity. They have many tools at
their disposal, whether it’s blank
sailings, cancelling or suspending
entire service loops, further
slow steaming, laying up ships
or taking longer routes. While all
that will combine to help carriers
weather a rough patch of unfavorable
supply-demand economics, it
undermines schedule integrity and
service reliability.
The disruptions caused by the
COVID-19 pandemic highlighted
the fragility of global supply
chains. In response, the ocean
transportation industry is focusing
on building resilience. This
involves diversifying supply chain
sources, adopting agile logistics
strategies, and investing in redundant
systems to mitigate risks
and ensure the uninterrupted flow
of goods. The maritime industry
is embracing digitalization at an
unprecedented pace. From smart
containers with real-time tracking
capabilities to blockchain-based
documentation, technology is
streamlining operations, reducing
inefficiencies, and enhancing overall
transparency.
2023 was also marked by
longshore labor disruption. The
International Longshore and Warehouse
Union (ILWU) flexed its
Continued on page 29
Page 6 Import/Export Wood Purchasing News n February/March 2024

Lake States
While lumbermen in the Lake States continued to steadily “move wood” through
the fourth quarter of 2023, they agreed that “something must change” in order to
hit the ground running in 2024.
A Wisconsin source called the 2023 fourth quarter market “steady” but added
that nothing is “booming.”
“We are still moving most species except Aspen and Basswood,” he noted. “The
prices are not what I’d like in most cases.”
He said that White Oak sales are “great” and that there have been no issues procuring
the sought after species.
Noting that his best months for sales are traditionally January through March, he
said that interest rates must be lowered to keep the trend intact.
Specializing in 4/4 and 5/4 Red and White Oak, Hard and Soft Maple, Ash,
Aspen and Basswood, the source stated that interest rates will eventually dip,
opening the market up to new house buyers.
He also noted that, while gas prices continued to drop, the cost of diesel fuel
Business Trends U.S.A.
Continued on page 26
Northeast
Overall, lumber sources in the Northeast region said that their sales were better
than they were six months ago.
A lumberman in Maryland said that aside from White Oak remaining strong
and with prices rising, he has noticed that Poplar and Red Oak have gotten harder
to move. “Some species are easier to move and some are harder to move than
they were six months ago, but all in all, I would say that we are doing better than
we were six months ago,” he stated.
He offers Red and White Oak and Poplar, as well as some Gum, Maple, Hickory
and Beech in a variety of grades and in 5/4 thickness.
He sells his upper grade lumber to distribution yards, while he sells his lower
grade lumber to pallet, mat and crosstie manufacturers. “The distribution yards
that I sell to have said that they are having trouble selling Poplar and Red Oak,”
he said, noting that there seems to be downward pressure on these species while
there is upward pressure on White Oak.
He mentioned that he has noticed a lot of people having issues with maintaining
enough log supply throughout the winter months. “You never know how
the weather is going to be and
what pressures that will put on the
supply,” he said.
In Maine a lumber spokesperson
said that his sales are doing OK.
“We have over a million feet on
order, and while it feels horrible
it’s not as bad as it seems,” he said,
adding that he is doing better than
he was six months ago due to his
prices going up.
His company offers Red Oak,
Hard and Soft Maple, Yellow
Birch and Ash in grades Select and
Better, Nos. 1, 2 and 3 Common
and in thicknesses of 4/4 and 5/4.
“Red Oak is selling well; we aren’t
making any money with it but it is
selling,” he said. “Hard Maple has
started to pick up due to lack of
supply.”
He sells to flooring, cabinet,
moulding and furniture manufacturers,
noting that they aren’t doing
well and have mentioned to him a
continuous decrease in their sales.
“Their order files are shrinking,
the first quarter of this year is not
looking good for them,” he said.
In Pennsylvania a lumber
saleswoman said, “We are cutting
White Oak and that is selling well
and Red Oak has started to pick up
a bit, but Poplar and Soft Maple are
slow.”
She noted that their business is
the same month over month and
that they are doing the same as
they were six months ago.
Her company offers Red and
White Oak, Hard and Soft Maple,
Poplar and some Ash. “We are a
5/4 mill and will cut some 4/4. We
can cut thicker stock but we don’t
dry it,” she said, adding that they
handle all grades and dry No. 3 and
Better.
She noted that while the stave
mills have been buying the true
White Oak, her company has deve-
Page 8 Import/Export Wood Purchasing News n February/March 2024
Wholesale/Wholesale Distributor Special Buying Issue Page 57
Continued on page 26
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Chris and Allia Schofer, JH Huscroft Ltd., Creston, BC; Terry Miller, The Softwood Forest
Products Buyer, Memphis, TN; and Shayna and Justin Storm, JH Huscroft Ltd.
This past November, the North American Wholesale Lumber Association
(NAWLA) welcomed forest products industry professionals to Columbus, Ohio,
for its 2023 Traders Market event. Featuring top-notch education, unparalleled
networking opportunities and a tradeshow like no other, the three-day annual
event was one for the books.
Continued on page 50
Doug Miller, Westwood Lumber Sales Inc., New Haven, IN; Garth Williams, Mason
Anderson, Jerrett Long, Pat Way and Kody Miller, Idaho Forest Group LLC, Coeur
d’Alene, ID
Additional photos on page 14
Photos By Chris Fehr
Jake Daniel and Bill Johnston, Culpeper Wood Preservers Inc., Culpeper, VA; Carl
Dirkes, Culpeper Wood Preservers Inc., Belchertown, MA; and Frank Halnon, Culpeper
Wood Preservers Inc., Athens, NY
The curtains have officially closed on the highly anticipated 2023 LMC Expo,
a two-day gathering of LMC Dealers and leading mills and manufacturers in
the bustling city of Philadelphia. It was a whirlwind of innovation, insights, and
strategic discussions as LMC dealers from across the nation converged to map
out a successful path for 2024.
When asked about the atmosphere at the LMC Expo, Sean Tighe, VP of
Purchasing at LMC remarked, “I had a supplier say to me, 'This is what I love
about LMC.' I knew instantly what she meant – the energy, the attendance, and
the continuing of rebuilding face-to-face meetings, left this expo with an energy
towards relationships and an outlook for 2024 that was palpable.”
Photos By Zach Miller
Additional photos on page 26
Ron Kalinowske, Joe Dalabon and George Cartullo, Cape Cod Lumber, Abington,
MA; Kevin Brockmyre, Hood Distribution, Ayer, MA; and Addison Ross and Adam
Hazelwood, San Group, Langley, BC
Continued on page 50
Additional photos on page 32
The Earth Expo & Convention Center at Mohegan Sun, located in Uncasville,
CT, recently welcomed the Northeastern Retail Lumber Association (NRLA)
LBM Expo.
The show floor featured hundreds of vendors offering the latest products and
services in the industry. Additionally, LBM Expo provided ample networking
Continued on page 51
Business Trends U.S.A.
Southeast
Throughout the Southeast region lumber sources agreed that their markets are
rather quiet, at the time of this writing. One source noted that while his sales are
slow, he has started to receive more inquiries out of Asia than expected.
In North Carolina, a sawmill representative said that his sales have been slower
than they were six months ago aside from an uptick in inquiries from Asia. He
noted that for his domestic sales it is most likely due to the time of year that has
caused a slowdown.
His company offers Red and White Oak and Poplar, in all NHLA grades and
in thicknesses of 4/4 through 8/4. “White Oak is selling best for us right now,”
he stated. He mentioned that White Oak is likely selling better due in part to the
stave mills looking to buy lower grade logs which in turn affects the regular random
width and random length markets.
He primarily sells to flooring, furniture and millwork manufacturers. “Domestically,
everyone is getting quiet, and my customers are trying to lower their
inventories,” he said.
Continued on page 26
Hermitage
Fine Appalachian Hardwood Since 1979
Hardwood
IMPORT/EXPORT
www.woodpurchasingnews.com
Vol.50 No.4 Serving Forest Products Buyers Worldwide FEBRUARY/MARCH 2024
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
JEFFERSON CITY, MO
PERMIT NO. 303
Exports Tumble In 2023, But 2024
Holds Promise
Michael Snow
By Graham Sweeney
Tripp Pryor
With U.S. lumber exports currently down millions of board feet in traditionally
large markets like China and Canada, members of the American Hardwood
Export Council (AHEC) remain encouraged by growth from smaller buyers like
Vietnam, the Middle East, India and Europe.
Michael Snow, executive director of AHEC, recently noted at an end-of-year
membership meeting that America’s wood industry wasn’t having “a banner year”
through the third quarter of 2023.
“I think it is important to look at where we are,” he added. “Hopefully we will
see a little claw back. The story is not an overly positive one.”
Tripp Pryor, the international program manager for AHEC, presented an “export
stat update” for those in attendance.
Continued on page 17
Import/Export Wood Purchasing News
P.O. Box 34908
Memphis, TN 38184-0908
Change Service Requested
IWPA Looks To Make 2024 The Best Year Yet
As we embark on 2024 in earnest (after what I
hope was a restful holiday break for Import/Export
Wood Purchasing News readers) IWPA is focused
on building upon the successes of 2023 and making
2024 our best year yet as an association.
As I’m writing this in early January, registrations
for IWPA’s 2024 World of Wood Convention (April
10-12 at the Hard Rock Hotel in beautiful San
Diego, California) are trending way ahead of any
convention in over a decade. Sure, some of us may
be looking forward to escaping winter for sunny
southern California, but I strongly believe that
By Ashley Amidon, some of that has to do with the way we as an association
are working to proactively address the many
CAE
Executive Director challenges our industry is facing and that folks are
excited to learn more about our efforts.
International
I visited more than 50 IWPA members in 2023
Wood Products
and what struck me most is how excited the industry
is for where the association is going.
Association
Alexandria, VA This momentum is apparent in our advocacy on
(703)820-7807 (c) behalf of our industry both in Washington, D.C. and
www.iwpawood.org around the world. As part of our end of 2023 stock
taking, we counted up our hill meetings and rang up
a total of 165! But it’s not just the quantity of meetings,
but the quality – each of these meetings had a
purpose to develop a new relationship or deepen an
existing one.
In addition to our annual Washington, D.C. Fly-
In, in 2023 we hosted IWPA members who made
specific trips to Washington to educate policymakers about how policy debates
like the ongoing lapse of the Generalized System of Preferences program impact
businesses in their states and districts. We are also exploring new ways to get
policymakers to visit member facilities when they are in their districts as part of
helping policymakers understand how our industry works.
Outside Washington, I have had the privilege of serving as an Observer to the
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum’s Experts Group on Illegal Logging
and Associated Trade (APEC EGILAT) and the International Timber Trade
Organization (ITTO). My participation in these meetings has helped me deepen
relationships with policymakers around the globe and share our industry’s perspective
on policies affecting trade in wood products.
Beyond our policy work we continue to serve our members by increasing our
educational offerings through a significant APHIS grant. By the time you read
this article, we will have FREE online education for anyone impacted by the
Lacey Act, whether they are an IWPA member or not. I am proud to help share
the expertise within IWPA through our many educational offerings both online
and in-person.
All of this work would not be possible without the generosity of so many
IWPA Board and Committee members who volunteer their time and knowledge
to help us ensure our advocacy, education, and programming is as effective
as possible in addressing the challenges we all face. I hope you will consider
joining us in these efforts in 2024, and I would love to chat with you about how
you can do so.
As April approaches, we hope you will register to join us in San Diego for
World of Wood 2024. We can’t wait to see so many friends and colleagues at the
one event each year that brings the whole industry together! n
The
Forest Products
www.softwoodbuyer.com
Vol. 39 No. 1 The Softwood Industry’s Only Newspaper...Now Reaching 36,187 firms (20,000 per issue) January/February 2024
A Traders Market to Remember: 2023
Event Recap
PRSRT STD
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DALLAS,TX
PERMIT 3886
West Coast
The Softwood Forest Products Buyer
P.O. Box 34908
Memphis, TN 38184-0908
Change Service Requested
Navigating Tomorrow: LMC Dealers Converge
For 2023 Expo In Philly
NRLA LBM Expo Offers Products,
Services, Education
Lumbermen on the West Coast recently spoke with nervous intrigue regarding
the first quarter of 2024.
At the time of this writing, three sources were slogging through a “sporadic”
December that saw many lumber suppliers selling “order-to-order.”
“Customers are concerned (with high interest rates) and everyone’s orders
have slowed down,” said a Washington source with 35 years of experience in the
business. “We have been in the black for the last 11 months. December could put
us in the red.
“The sales volume is off at least 50 percent from 2022 in December,” he added.
“So, this really stands out from previous years.”
When asked what it would take to get business back on track, he said “home
loans should be more affordable.
“We go as the interest rates go,” he noted.
A California source said despite a slow fourth quarter that lumber species like
White Oak and Poplar are “still doing well.”
However, sales for Aspen
and Basswood are “almost
nonexistent.”
Noting that White Oak has been
“popular for a while,” he said that
it “is being used for everything
right now, even siding.”
However, even wildly popular
lumber species like White Oak can
be replaced by engineered wood.
“Hardwoods are not as prominent
as they used to be,” he
expressed. “We are losing some
ground to engineered products,
which is a shame. That is just the
way of the world these days. We
have fought that battle for a long
time. Our company is also into
(engineered wood) but (real) wood
is still the biggest item we sell. We
are losing ground though.”
An Oregon source said he
believed that December’s slump
was due to the “typical holiday”
slowdown. He added that buyers
are “only going to get something if
they absolutely need it.”
The Washington source, who
sells primarily White Oak, Hard
Maple and Poplar in Numbers 1
and 2 Common, agreed that much
of the issue could be attributed to
the winter season and added that
the industry was in a “traditional
recession.”
“We’ve seen the dips and lulls
before,” he added. “This stands out
though. It is seasonal and compounded
by people being a little
nervous about paying too much on
logs.
“The first two quarters (of 2023)
were great,” he added. “Frankly,
that is where we made our money.
The last two have just been OK.”
As far as shedding the bark of
recession goes, most of the sources
remained quietly optimistic about
the first quarter of 2024.
“There is pent up demand from
the last quarter of 2023,” said the
Continued on page 26
Page 10 Import/Export Wood Purchasing News n February/March 2024

Canadian Business Trends
Ontario
In advance of the 2023 Holiday season and into New Year’s, sawmills sawed
more lumber ahead of this period. Many secondary manufacturers took extended
breaks during this time in most areas on both sides of the border. This resulted
in lower demand for raw materials. In certain areas, obtaining logs and pricing
were a challenge thus impacting output. As we move into a new year, facing
uncertainty, volatility and complexities will be top of mind, as will be employee
retention and recruitment for the hardwood industry.
Ash production was down in certain areas and green lumber had seen a
contraction over the Holidays. Markets are reported to be absorbing developing
supplies. Kiln-dried stocks are controlled, however, domestic and international
customers are being adequately supplied. Most are purchasing for immediate
needs.
Supplies of Hard Maple were ample for most secondary manufacturers and
wholesalers. Suppliers are struggling to find new orders, and hope that end users’
inventories will decline sufficiently to provide a boost in activity. Even though
markets are slow, it was reported that prices for some grades and thicknesses
were rising, such as for kiln-dried No. 1 and 2 White FAS and for Unselected
4/4 through 5/4 FAS. Green Hard Maple output was low compared to the steady
demand.
Reports are similar for Soft Maple. Some sawmills are having difficulty finding
enough logs or are controlling receipts, thus output is low and prices are rising.
Depending on areas contacted, kiln-dried sales are not strong, with inventories
low for many grades and thicknesses.
Aspen markets remain the same with demand slow because of low finished
goods sales. Some sawmills are challenged to find outlets for production, and
prices are dropping. Kiln-dried business is also reported as weak, with rising
inventories resulting in competition for orders. The same for Basswood with
demand being weak, although business is better for green lumber than kilndried
sales. Contacts noted kiln-dried inventories are higher for most grades and
Continued on page 26
Quebec
Another year has begun and the hardwood industry is busy, striving to improve
efficiencies, boost margins, deal with supply chain shortages, rising interests
rates, expand their sales while serving established customers and vying for new
ones, all in the hopes of increasing profits. Contacts remain cautiously optimistic
that business will improve this year as they face the new challenges before them
through innovation and creativity.
Ash sales have slowed and shipments to China are not increasing, stated
contacts. Prices are in a downward trend. However, green Ash is moving to
concentration yards. Basswood sales have deteriorated noted contacts. Secondary
manufacturers have reduced their purchases of this species due to a slowdown
in their business sector and also competition from other materials that are being
used as alternates. Moulding producers had switched to this species when Poplar
prices rose, but have now reverted back to using Poplar.
Domestic demand for Cherry is reported as weak, with the Chinese market also
ordering less of this species as well. Thus more caution is used when purchasing
Cherry. Prices have gone down as a result.
The regionally important Hard Maple continues to be in demand, but production
has slowed, while kiln-dried Hard Maple demand is slightly better. Soft
Maple is seeing competition from other species and so sales are not as they were
for this species. The wood components and cabinet sectors are buying less hardwood
lumber than in previous years due to imported products readily available
and other materials also taking the market share of hardwoods. It is noted that
production for most hardwood species are low at this time.
Sales of Hickory for the thicker stocks to established customers are decent,
while the green 4/4 No. 2B and Better grades are slower. Prices are stable for this
species.
Many flooring manufacturers stocked up before winter set in with most having
reached their desired inventory levels and so had reduced purchases heading into
Continued on page 27
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Business Trends Abroad
Europe – In October 2023, compared with last September, which is the most
recent data available at presstime, seasonally adjusted production in the construction
sector decreased by nine-tenths of a percent in the Euro Area (EA) and by
six-tenths of a percent in the European Union (EU), according to first estimates
from Eurostat.
Last September, production in construction grew by eight-tenths of a percent in
the EA and by seven-tenths of a percent in the EU.
Compared with October 2022, production in construction decreased by seven-tenths
of a percent last October in the EA.
Last October, when compared with September 2023, civil engineering decreased
by 1 percent in the (EA) and building construction by eight-tenths of a
percent.
In the EU, building construction decreased by six-tenths of a percent and civil
engineering increased by five-tenths of a percent. Among “member states” of
which data is available, the largest monthly decreases in production in construction
was recorded in Slovenia (down 6.1 percent), Germany and Slovakia (down
2.2 percent) and France (down 2 percent). The highest increases were observed in
Romania and Sweden (both up 3 percent), Spain (up 1.4 percent) and Austria (up
1.3 percent).
In the EA in October 2023, compared with October 2022, building construction
decreased by seven-tenths of a percent and civil engineering by two-tenths of a
percent.
In the EU building construction decreased by eight-tenths of a percent, while
civil engineering increased by 1.8 percent. Among “member states” of which
data is available, the largest annual decreases were recorded in Finland (down
7.3 percent), Sweden (down 4.6 percent) and Belgium (down 3.5 percent). The
highest increases in production in construction were observed in Romania (up 9.2
percent), Spain (up 8.3 percent) and Poland (up 7.5 percent).
Austria – The Austrian Wood Industry Association has welcomed measures
decided by the federal government to strengthen timber construction. The measures
were discussed at the meeting of the Council of Ministers last December.
“We are pleased that the federal government is once again emphasizing the importance
of wooden construction and wood products in achieving climate goals,”
explained Herbert Jöbstl, chairman of the Austrian Wood Industry Association.
“The storage of carbon in long-lasting products made of wood is particularly
important.
“The federal government is committed,” he continued, “among other things, to
relying more on wood in public construction, for example in schools and kindergartens,
and recommends that states and municipalities use additional funds from
the Future Fund for wood construction. Especially in view of the weak construction
sector, this package of measures is also a good economic policy decision. A
more extensive use of wood strengthens regional value chains, the economy, jobs
and climate protection.”
Vietnam – According to preliminary statistics provided by Vietnam General
Department of Customs recently, Vietnam’s Wood and Wood Product (W&WP)
exports reached $1.3 billion, up 1.4 percent compared to October 2023 and up 11
percent compared to November 2022. Of this, WP exports contributed US$880
million, up eight-tenths percent compared to October 2023 and up 15.7 percent
year-on-year.
In the first 11 months of 2023 exports of both W and WP are estimated at $12.2
billion, down 17 percent over the same period in 2022. In particular, WP exports
are estimated at $8.3 billion, down 19 percent over the same period in 2022.
Vietnam's imports of wood raw materials in November 2023 amounted to
406,300 cubic meters, worth $133 million, up 10 percent in volume and 10
percent in value compared to October 2023. However, compared to November
2022, there was a decrease of 16 percent in volume and a decrease of 24 percent
in value.
In the first 11 months of 2023, imports of raw wood are estimated at 4,054
million cubic meters worth $1.376 billion, down 27 percent in volume and 35
percent in value over the same period in 2022. W&WP exports to Japan in November
2023 amounted to $126 million, down 27 percent compared to November
2022.
In the first 11 months of 2023, exports of W&WP in Japan were estimated at
$1.5 billion, down 12 percent over the same period in 2022.
Continued on page 16
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BUSINESS TRENDS ABROAD - Continued from page 14
CHECK IT OUT!
AHEC WEBINAR - Continued from page 1
“Exports of Red Oak lumber to the rest of the world increased by 35 million board feet
from 2018 to 2022,” Pryor said. “But that is not enough to replace the demand lost in
China.”
In total, China’s lumber imports from the U.S. were down 8 percent in total volume,
which resulted in a 20 percent drop in value.
“That is what is hurting,” Pryor said. “There is a global softening for demand, lowering
lumber prices.”
Exports of office furniture in November 2023 was valued at $23.9 million,
down 10 percent compared to November 2022.
In the first 11 months of 2023, office furniture exports were estimated at $245
million, down 28 percent over the same period in 2022.
Vietnam's Non-Timber Forest Exports in October 2023 reached $57.37 million,
up 9 percent compared to September 2023 and up 9 percent compared to October
2022. Over the first 10 months of 2023 NTFP exports earned $596.19 million,
down 14 percent over the same period in 2022.
Germany – More and more German companies are complaining about a lack
of orders in residential construction.
In November 2023, this was 49.1 percent of companies, after 48.7 percent
in the previous month. This represents the eighth increase in a row. With 21.5
percent of reports, order cancellations played an almost unchanged role as in the
previous month (22.2 percent).
“The housing companies are losing customers in droves. The high construction
costs and the current interest rate levels are causing many builders to despair.
Many projects simply no longer pay off under these conditions and must be postponed
or canceled,” said Klaus Wohlrabe, head of the surveys.
More than 11 percent of participants reported financing difficulties, after 9.9
percent in October. At an extraordinarily weak -54.6 points, the business climate
is at its lowest level since the survey began in 1991.
This was once again a slight deterioration compared to the two similarly weak
previous months. “The mood among the companies surveyed remains icy,” commented
Wohlrabe. “There is no improvement in sight at the moment.”
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plier of wooden furniture imports in the first 10 months of 2023, and they were
worth $286 million, down 16 percent year-on-year and accounting for 45 percent
of the national total.
China imported wooden furniture from more than 80 suppliers worldwide
and the value of China’s wooden furniture imports from the top eight suppliers
accounted for 83 percent of the national total.
China’s wooden furniture imports from Sweden, alone, rose among the
top suppliers. However, China’s wooden furniture imports from the other top
suppliers fell at different rates in the first 10 months of 2023, resulting in the
decrease of the national total wood furniture imports. China’s wood furniture
imports from USA in the first 10 months of 2023 amounted to $3.76 million, a
year-on-year decrease of 40 percent. n
At the time of this writing, he acknowledged that lumber exports were at the lowest volume
since 2011. He added that there was a drop of 896 million board feet, or 21 percent,
from 2022.
“So,” he said, “it has been a fairly difficult year.”
Despite the decreases, Pryor said that China “still dominates the export picture for
lumber.”
The country purchased 330 million board feet through January to September of 2023
(the latest data available at press time), with Canada accounting for 152 million and Mexico
at 115 million.
Pryor added that one of the major drops in the export market has been Red Oak. Cherry
and Walnut have seen a modest uptick in foreign sales.
“China (accounted for) 71 percent of total exports for Red Oak in 2018,” he said. “It was
close to 80 percent in 2016 and 2017. ”
The number sank to 63 percent in 2020 before landing at 51 percent in 2023.
Pryor said he is optimistic of the growth potential seen in markets like the Middle East,
Continued on page 18
China – According to the most recent data available at presstime, the construction
sector in China showed a noticeable upward trend and the overall performance
of Chinese timber enterprises was stable.
The enterprises contributing to the GTI-China reported that their production
volume and domestic orders increased compared with the previous month. Purchases
of raw materials were more active, but the number of international orders
continued to decline due to the sluggish global timber market.
Last December, the GTI-China index recorded 54 percent, a decrease of 1.2
percentage points compared to that of the previous month. However, it was above
the critical value (50 percent) where it has been for two consecutive months indicating
that the business prosperity of the timber enterprises represented by the
GTI-China index expanded.
China’s wooden furniture imports amounted to $637 million in the first 10
months of 2023, a year-on-year decline of 15 percent. Italy was the largest sup-
Page 16 Import/Export Wood Purchasing News n February/March 2024
Import/Export Wood Purchasing News n February/March 2024 Page 17

AHEC WEBINAR - Continued from page 17
India and Vietnam, which imported 107 million board feet of lumber through September
of 2023.
“That is encouraging,” he said.
Yest attended Waupaca High School in Waupaca, WI and has completed the
Dale Carnegie course and sales training classes.
Yest has been married to his wife Rachelle for 15 years, they have two daughters,
Reese and Jenna. In his spare time, he enjoys hunting, fishing, boating,
playing golf and attending his daughters’ sporting events.
For more information, call 563-928-6431, email myest@kendrickinc.com or
visit www.kfpiowa.com. n
WHO'S WHO - DUKAS - Continued from page 2
While log exports were also down in 2023, countries were buying a “wider diversity of
logs” through 2023, according to Pryor.
In 2018, China began importing a broader spectrum of species from the U.S., with
Yellow Poplar and Maple accounting for 12 percent of logs purchased.
“However in 2023,” Pryor said, “it has been largely concentrated with the main four
species; Walnut (30 percent), Red Oak (29 percent), Ash (18 percent) and White Oak (14
percent).”
In 2018, the U.S. exported 1.8 million cubic meters of logs. That number had dipped
below 1.4 million in 2023.
Through September 2023, the U.S. was primarily exporting logs to Greater China,
Canada, Vietnam, Europe, and Japan.
The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) is the leading international trade
association for the U.S. hardwood industry, representing the committed U.S. hardwood exporters
and the major U.S. hardwood product trade associations. AHEC runs a worldwide
program to promote the full range of American hardwoods in over 50 export markets.
For more information, go to www.ahec.org.
bans, VT and the University of New Hampshire in Durham, NH, where he earned
a degree in the studies of marketing and entrepreneurship. He also attended the
National Hardwood Lumber Association ITSEF school.
In his spare time, Dukas enjoys golf, water skiing, running and Maple syrup. He
is engaged to Mariah Ouellette.
Abenaki is a member of National Hardwood Lumber Association, Hardwood
Manufacturers Association, Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers Incorporated,
Penn York Lumbermens Club, American Hardwood Export Council, Hardwood
Federation, New England Lumbermen’s and Canadian Hardwood Bureau.
For more information, call Dukas at 603-702-5004, email parker@
abenakitimber.com or visit www.abenakitimber.com. n
AHEC COLUMN - Continued from page 2
Photo By Petr Krečí
duction and export of timber – ranging from small family-run sawmills to major
flooring manufacturers. Established to unite this wide-ranging spectrum of companies
with a single global voice, AHEC has successfully built an internationally recognised
brand, marketing more than 20 commercially available hardwood species
and increasing demand around the world.
www.americanhardwood.org
@ahec_europe
About Disegno
Disegno is an international journal dedicated to long-form writing and photography
around design. The team behind Disegno also publish Design Reviewed, a title
devoted to experiential design writing and long-form reviews, with an emphasis on
hands-on engagement. Both journals cover all design fields, exploring the political,
social, environmental and industrial impact of the discipline. Each is published
biannually. Disegno also publishes a mixture of long-form journalism and shorter
news items on its website.
www.disegnojournal.com
@disegnojournal n
Keep Up With
The Latest
Industry News
woodpurchasingnews.com
(Editor’s Note: data represented in graphics sourced from USDA GATS) n
WHO'S WHO - DAHN - Continued from page 2
grandson and two granddaughters.
HHP is a member of the National Hardwood Lumber Association, Hardwood
Manufacturers Association, American Hardwood Export Council, New England
Lumbermens Association, New Hampshire Timber Owners Association and
National Wooden Pallet and Container Association.
For more information, call Dahn on his cell at 413-234-0805 or his office, 603-
428-3298, email bdahn@hhp-inc.com or visit www.hhp-inc.com. n
WHO'S WHO - YEST - Continued from page 2
Yest has been with Kendrick Forest Products for 13 years. When he started he
was doing a portion of the kiln-dried lumber sales and has since taken over the
responsibilities of selling all of their green and kiln-dried lumber production. Yest
has been in the forest products industry since 2002, with his first job being at a
concentration yard in Wisconsin. He started as a mill clerk, banding and tallying
packs and kept a log of the daily production. After he graduated from the National
Hardwood Lumber Association’s Inspector Training School’s 139th class, he
became a lumber grader and was a shift manager for five years. He has since spent
the last 16 years in lumber sales.
Yest has been the president of the American Walnut Manufacturers Association
and is currently serving on the board of directors for the Wood Component Manufacturers
Association.
wherever you get your podcasts.
Editor’s notes:
Photo By Fiona Susanto
About American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC)
For more than three decades, the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC)
has been the global face of the U.S. timber industry, championing the performance,
sustainability and aesthetic potential of American hardwoods worldwide. As the
leading international hardwood trade association for North America, AHEC operates
a non-profit program representing thousands of businesses engaged in the pro-
STOP WORRYING
Page 18 Import/Export Wood Purchasing News n February/March 2024
Import/Export Wood Purchasing News n February/March 2024 Page 19

ELEPHANT LUMBER - Continued from page 4
A fleet of Elephant Lumber trucks delivers logs to one of the company’s mills in Gabon.
“Careful forest research is required,” he noted. During this research, the number
of trees from each species must be counted, marked and tagged.
“In the first three years,” he said, “what you’re getting is a temporary harvest
permit.”
Workers can then harvest trees in the marked areas, which will be one-tenth of
the total harvest area.
When the three years end, the government will conduct research to determine
whether the harvesting is environmentally sustainable.
Once the audit has passed, Elephant Lumber receives a sustainable harvesting
certificate.
“And we will receive a long-term permit for harvesting,” Gallagher said.
“The country of Gabon in Africa is committed to managing their forest in a
sustainable way and Elephant Lumber is manufacturing these unique and exotic
hardwoods for valued customers today and for future generations!” Gallagher
noted.
“With the investment we have in three modern mills in Gabon, we want to
develop long term relationships with the distributors in North America who have
a keen eye and pulse of the markets they serve,” said Rex Dou, president of Elephant
Lumber in Sutton, MA. “Elephant Lumber does an excellent job manufacturing
high quality products and we want to help our valued partners succeed in
their markets and not worry about supply. That’s our commitment to you.”
Elephant Lumber is a member of the International Wood Products Association.
For more information, go to www.ElephantLumberCompany.com. n
Elephant Lumber offers more than 50 hardwood species in various grades,
thicknesses and quantities.
Products offered include:
Rough Sawn Lumber
- 4/4 – 12/4
- Random width/fixed width with 10 percent moisture content and container
load only
- Sapele flat/quarter/mix
- Species include Okoume, Okan, Padouk, Tali, Beli Noir, Beli Rogue,
Wenge, Zebrawood, Iroko, Sipo, Kosipo and Azobe, to name a few.
Finished Decking
- S4S E4E 3-millimeter ratios premium quality
- KD 12-16 percent
- Species include Padouk, Tali, Okan, Omvong, Dabema and Azobe
Unfinished Solid Flooring
- Tongue and groove 5 feet and 6 feet fixed width 2 feet through 7 feet
random length
- Species include Sapele, Okan, Tali and Limbali
The company also takes pride in its use of “environmentally responsible practices.”
“With three sawmills in Gabon, Africa, one in Congo and one in Equatorial
Guinea,” Gallagher said, “we ensure a steady supply of top-grade lumber while
preserving the delicate ecosystems of the regions we operate in. Our sustainable
Wood is stacked in the paddock after being dried in an Elephant Lumber kiln. The lumber
will be shipped to Europe.
sourcing methods help protect the environment for future generations.”
Trinity Hardwoods (Elephant Lumber) is the North American sales branch of a
global sawmill group that boasts 15 sawmills and employs 1,010 workers, most
of whom are in Gabon and Vietnam.
These sawmills produced 36.8 million board feet of lumber in 2022.
“The lumber we manufacture comes from our own sawmills,” Gallagher said.
“We want to be your source for those species you wish to procure from Africa.”
Gallagher added that working with the distribution yards and wholesale distributors
is paramount to the company’s success.
“They provide a great service with boots on the ground for their highly specialized
and prized tropical and exotic hardwoods,” he added.
The company also gives back to the communities that have “supported us
throughout our journey.”
Elephant Lumber actively participates in local community building and environment
protection initiatives.
From constructing hospitals to providing access to clean water through wells
and promoting education with the establishment of schools, “we are dedicated to
making a positive impact on the lives of those around us,” Gallagher said.
Elephant Lumber has 45 kilns in Gabon, where the raw materials are obtained.
The total drying capacity is 1.9 million feet and targeting a 10-percent moisture
content for all lumber products.
The lumber drying process takes 4-to-12 weeks, the logs must be turned into
lumber, “which is a quick process,” said Gallagher, who has 35 years of sales
experience.
“Once the lumber is in the yard,” he said, “we will leave it to air dry for a bit
before drying and conditioning it in the kilns.”
When asked to give a brief description of the flow of materials through the
plant from the back door to the front, Gallagher said that the first step is acquiring
a harvest permit.
woodpurchasingnews.com
An Elephant Lumber worker studies the best way to cut down a tree in Gabon.
Dry lumber waits to be shipped to Europe.
Steve Staryak, Sales Manager, stevestaryak@lawrencelumber.net
Steve Leonard, Green Lumber Sales, sgleonard7@gmail.com
Page 22 Import/Export Wood Purchasing News n February/March 2024
Import/Export Wood Purchasing News n February/March 2024 Page 23

EDENSAW WOODS LTD. - Continued from page 5
Edensaw Woods’ on-site millhouse works with customers to utilize the selection of wood, to
design solid wood products according to exact specifications.
Edensaw Woods Ltd, located in Port Townsend, WA, carries around 100 species of domestic
and exotic species.
Buster Ferris, VP of Edensaw Woods
going, and the applications they are being used in. When you call us for the first
time, we can help walk you through what you need and what the product is going
to offer for your application in terms of stability, durability and more. We offer
a wide variety of services, specializing in custom millwork, CNC design and
manufacturing and delivery.”
The company’s on-site millhouse works with customers to utilize the selection
of wood, to design solid wood products according to exact specifications. Buster
explained, “We pride ourselves on being able to individually hand pick our
lumber from our own stock for each order, which increases the consistently high
quality for customer projects. We supply custom materials for local boat builders,
and fine home contractors. With our custom moulding capabilities, we can duplicate
classic Victorian trim and siding patterns to renovate homes on the National
Historic Homes Register.”
Continually reinvesting in the operation Buster said the most recent additions
are a Weinig moulder and an iDry Vacuum Kiln increasing production and
efficiency in both aspects. “With the installation of the new Weinig moulder we
have reduced our lead time from three weeks plus down to just a couple of days,”
he said. “We sent the entire millhouse to the Weinig Holz-Her Education and
Training Center in Mooresville, NC, and I could not be happier with this addition.
With the installation of our first vacuum kiln we can now dry material in a
fraction of the time as a conventional kiln, which has been huge for drying our
own stock as well as taking on customers’ orders.”
The CNC Department at Edensaw specializes in small custom and large production
projects. Buster offered, “We specialize in cutting cabinet parts, furniture
pieces, profiles, signs, templates, boat parts and fly cutting hardwood slabs to
We specialize in cutting cabinet parts, furniture pieces, moulder profiles, signs, templates,
boat parts and fly cutting hardwood slabs to create flat tabletop surfaces,” Buster Ferris,
Vice President, Edensaw Woods Ltd.
face it. If you don’t have a table saw, we can straight-line it, if you don't have the
space or the time then let us do it for you. Our molder can create custom profiles
to cut that piece you can’t find anywhere- in any species you want. Whether they
don’t make it anymore, or they never have–we fill in the gaps. If the project is
too complex for human hands, our CNC department can create even the most
intricate patterns and repetitive cuts. With a 5-foot x 12-foot bed, the possibilities
are virtually endless.”
Sustainability is at the forefront of concerns for Edensaw. “We have always
been dedicated to sourcing woods from sustainable forests. Not only do we
follow the Forest Stewardship Council’s® strictest guidelines, as well as those of
the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification, (PEFC) we also adhere
to our very own standards when sourcing lumber, slabs and burls from our own
backyard and abroad. If we are not good stewards of the forest and land, then
what is the point? To help lead the way in sustainability we took Edensaw fully
solar not long ago. Installing 528 solar panels for a total output of 201.75 kWP
Processing slabs to customers' requirements.
now producing more power than we use.”
As for what the next 40 years will bring, he said he’s looking at new growth
opportunities in the future and Edensaw Woods Ltd. has continued plans for
year-over-year growth.
For more information visit www.edensaw.com. n
create flat tabletop surfaces. Our millhouse is equipped with a large variety of
industrial equipment. We have a gang-rip saw, resaw, planer, wide-belt sander
and moulder all on site to get our rough lumber one, two or three steps closer
to the finished product. The wide-belt sander can accommodate pieces up to 50
inches across.
“If our customer doesn’t have the space for all necessary equipment, then we
can mill it with ours,” Buster continued. “If you don’t have a planer, we can sur-
Edensaw Woods Ltd. offers an assortment of shop and hand tools, craft and turning woods,
live edge slabs, specialty burls, high quality veneers, marine and cabinet grade plywoods,
along with their vast array of hardwoods.
Checking slabs moisture out of the new iDry Kiln before further processing them for sale.
Page 24 Import/Export Wood Purchasing News n February/March 2024
Import/Export Wood Purchasing News n February/March 2024 Page 25

LAKE STATES BUSINESS TRENDS - Continued from page 8
remained “plenty high.”
“A lot of people don’t realize that just because gas is going down doesn’t mean
that diesel costs are too,” he said.
A Michigan source said that he is “on the fence” regarding the market in 2024.
“There are just so many ancillary things that are giving us trouble,” he said.
“Pulp and paper mills are slowing down. The markets are drying up.”
He added that the region is “low on logs because they can’t get anything done.”
“Crews are either sitting idle or not running because they don’t have enough
work for them,” he said.
That is because potential buyers are unable to predict future interest rates and
therefore choosing not to build until a concrete order is made, according to the
source.
With numbers down in the fourth quarter, the Michigan lumber provider has
begun to “take some measures” to stay afloat.
“A little bit, not a lot right now,” he said. “We are certainly watching it close.
(Industry leaders) are slowing things down without cutting anybody off or shutting
anything down.”
An Indiana sawmill operator said, at the time of this writing, that the market is
“pretty much dead right now.”
“No one is going to buy until 2024,” he noted.
While he acknowledged that some wood wasn’t “moving,” he said Poplar and
White Oak are the exceptions.
“But we really haven’t recovered since about a year-and-a-half ago,” he added.
“It is going to take some time to get things back to (pre-COVID) numbers.”
The source said that lumber yards are keeping a small inventory.
“Everyone thinks that they can get everything they want, when they want it,”
he said. “That is going to have to change (for yards to start having larger inventory).”
The Indiana lumberman also said that Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) is
taking the place of “real wood.”
“We’re not even sawing as much,” he said.
He said that he primarily ships lumber to Southern California for distribution.
But the loads are currently light.
“Timber prices haven’t gone down and labor is now a problem,” he said. “There
aren’t as many loggers as there used to be.”
He said that there are entire days that go by with no wood being sawed.
“Some mills have already shut down here,” he said.
The Michigan man reiterated his concern for the near future of the lumber
industry.
“It is more of the same,” he said, referring to the state of the business less than
two months ago. n
NORTHEAST BUSINESS TRENDS - Continued from page 8
loped a niche customer base that looks to her company to buy White Oak.
Her company is currently selling to end users and distributors. “We haven’t
been able to find the pricing that we are able to get for White Oak in the export
market, so we are selling it domestically,” she said. “The niche markets that we
serve are booming but it’s not steady.”
She added that she is looking forward to 2024 being a stronger year, noting
that it is typical to slow down this time of year but that she should serve the same
markets in ‘24 and there should be more volume. n
SOUTHEAST BUSINESS TRENDS - Continued from page 10
A Georgia lumberman said that for him Red and White Oak are selling well,
while he isn’t able to put a finger on why Poplar is selling the way it is for him.
“I’ve been able to move Poplar in grades No. 1 and 2 Common in 4/4 thickness
out of one of my mills, while out of another I am sold out of it in No. 2 Common
in 6/4 thickness and have No. 1 Common in 6/4 thickness just sitting,” he said.
He noted that he believes his sales are about the same as they were six months
ago. “Business is just OK, it’s not horrible, but it’s certainly not the best.”
He sells to American exporters, flooring manufacturers and distribution yards.
“Everything that happens this time of year, you have to take it with a grain of
salt,” he remarked.
In Kentucky, a lumber spokesperson said that while this is a historically
slower time of year he has noticed a certain air of caution in the wind surrounding
the market uncertainty that comes with the first quarter of the year. “There
are still supply shortages out there in the market, while demand is continuing to
contract,” he noted.
His company’s top three species are Red and White Oak and Poplar, while
they also offer Hard and Soft Maple and Hickory, as well as a small amount of
Walnut and Cherry. They offer these species in 4/4 and 5/4 thicknesses and in all
grades with a focus on No. 1 and Better. “While No. 1 and Better is my focus, I
certainly get a tremendous amount of No. 2 Common. I don’t dry any of my No.
2 Common, expect for my Walnut. I did unfortunately have to dry off all of my
Soft Maple once that market died off, and now it is all just sitting,” he added.
“Our White Oak production is down 50 percent from what it was last year,
which is due to the incredible demand from the stave mills,” he said. “Staves
can’t seem to be manufactured fast enough and the production can’t be high
enough for the bourbon industry.” He noted that White Oak used to be neck and
neck for the specie that his company produced the most of year over year. n
WEST COAST BUSINESS TRENDS - Continued from page 10
Oregon lumber salesman. “So, the first quarter of 2024 will be pretty good.”
The California source, who sells primarily to professional contractors and
custom home builders, said he expects the market to be “slightly flat” during the
first quarter of 2024.
He also discussed some of the transportation issues that will be dealt with in
time throughout the California market.
“There is a battle going on in California,” he said. “(The local government)
wants every vehicle in the state to be electric by 2035. Even on trucks.”
The source’s concern stems from a major investment that his company made
recently.
“We invested heavily and bought 80 diesel powered Freightliners,” he said in
frustration. “I mean, we don’t have enough electricity to run the houses (in California),
so how are we going to plug in these electric vehicles.” n
ONTARIO BUSINESS TRENDS - Continued from page 12
thicknesses, while green production is limited.
Business for Birch has declined where it was being used as a substitute for
Maple. Traditional markets for Birch have held up well even though there has
been a drop in hardwood finished goods orders. Supplies are noted as outpacing
demand.
Some sawmills report low log decks. Green Red Oak production in some areas
is limited because of this. Supplies of No. 1 Common and Better are identified as
marginally sufficient to meet demand. Buyers are controlling receipts of kilndried
inventories. White Oak sawmill production is also down for certain areas
contacted, so green White Oak lumber supplies are limited. Demand is outpacing
supply of No. 1 Common and Better grade. Sales of kiln-dried stocks are
reported as solid with thin inventories.
In mid-December the Bank of Canada (BoC) reported that interest rates would
not be coming down any time soon, putting it on a divergent path from the U.S.
Federal Reserve, which said that easing could be on the timetable.
Governor Tiff Macklem said the Fed would do what they needed to do, and the
BoC would focus on what needed to be done in Canada.
"We have not started having that discussion (about cutting rates), because it's
too early to have that discussion. We're still discussing whether we raised interest
rates enough and how long they need to stay where they are."
Money markets expect the bank to begin easing as soon as April and for rates
to fall 125 basis points in 2024.
U.S. central bank chief Jerome Powell said the historic tightening of monetary
policy is likely over, with a discussion of cuts in borrowing costs coming into
view.
The Bank of Canada had previously forecast inflation should hit 2 percent by
end-2025 but Macklem - making his last public appearance of 2023 - told reporters
it should be closer to target by the end of next year.
"Inflation is still too high. If we don't do enough ... ultimately, we're probably
going to have to raise rates even further to get it down," he said. Earlier, in his
speech, he had said future inflation declines were likely to be gradual.
Macklem also expressed increasing optimism it could bring inflation back
down to target but said the next few quarters would be difficult as high interest
rates restrict the economy.
"The 2 percent inflation target is now in sight. And while we're not there yet,
the conditions increasingly appear to be in place to get us there," he said.
Overseas, the European Central Bank said policy easing had not been brought
up in a two-day meeting, and the Bank of England said rates would remain high
for “an extended period”.
"I expect 2024 to be a year of transition ... with the cost of living still increasing
too quickly, and with growth subdued, the next two to three quarters will
be difficult for many," said Macklem, adding the jobless rate was likely to rise
further. n
QUEBEC BUSINESS TRENDS - Continued from page 12
the new year.
Red Oak orders were reported as decent for green No. 3A and Better grades.
Kiln-dried demand is weaker due to weaker global business and also due to the
holiday period we just went through. Demand for White Oak is steady, however,
providing the orders is a challenge as lumber is not readily available. It is also a
result of low sawmill production and strong competition from the stave industry
for logs. Demand from the cabinet sector has remained steady for this species in
the past year.
Poplar output is meeting domestic demand, and users were not rushing to
purchase it before the new year. Those exporting are finding it challenging to get
orders from existing customers in Europe and the Far East, and price concessions
are being offered to stimulate business.
Walnut demand continues to be steady but varied according to areas contacted.
Sales based on grades and special color selections are moving more readily.
According to published survey results on trends, the outlook for wood components
remains relatively positive, especially for manufacturers of products
used in interior applications, such as cabinetry, casework, closets, and furniture.
And while solid wood remains the dominant substrate for these components, the
popularity of composite panel products continues to grow.
Warm neutrals, lighter wood tones and earth tones top the trends list for the
next three years, according to respondents in the NKBA/KBIS 2024 Kitchen
Trends Report. Texture is also “in.” As for species choice, Hard and Soft Maple,
White and Red Oak, Walnut, Poplar and Cherry remain popular, with Hickory
and Pecan also strong in items such as flooring and other millwork.
For industrial products, wood continues to be a dominant material in many
products, including crossties and pallets.
This is encouraging news for the hardwood industry as we move into 2024. n
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WASHINGTON SCENE - Continued from page 3
subsidization would likely harm the U.S. industry if the orders against unfairly
traded Canadian imports were taken away.
The U.S. Department of Commerce had previously found that if the orders were
revoked Canadian dumping would resume at a margin of up to 7.28 percent and
subsidization at a rate of up to 19.62 percent.
"The facts before the International Trade Commission were clear – unfairly traded
imports from Canada cause real harm to U.S. producers and workers," said Andrew
Miller, Chairman of the U.S. Lumber Coalition and CEO of Stimson Lumber.
"The ruling by the Commission means the softwood lumber trade cases can continue
to help offset Canadian lumber subsidies and dumping, allowing the domestic
industry to compete against unfairly traded imports from Canada."
"The U.S. Lumber Coalition fully supports the continued full enforcement of
America's trade laws against unfairly traded imports. (This) ruling was paramount
for the long-term confidence in the U.S. softwood lumber sawmilling industry to
continue to make the investments in employees and mill operations necessary to
supply the U.S. market to build American homes," concluded Miller. n
Sawn AFRICAN MAHOGANY lumber en route
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and ready for grading
Page 26 Import/Export Wood Purchasing News n February/March 2024
Import/Export Wood Purchasing News n February/March 2024 Page 27

HMA recently announced the passing of Don
Meyer of Orchard Park, New York, on November
28, 2023.
Beloved husband of 66 years to Doris C. Meyer
(née Maurer); dearest father of Jeffrey (Debbie)
Meyer (and late daughter-in-law Karin Meyer),
Jill Meyer and Joelle (Mark) Herskind; dearest
grandfather of Benjamin (Rebecca) Meyer, Jacob
(Heather) Herskind, Jenna (Tyler) Heath, Seth
(Kristina) Meyer, Micah Herskind, Luke Meyer,
Caleb Herskind and eight great-grandchildren; dear
Don Meyer brother of Cheryl (Dennis) Carew and the late Kenneth
(late Carol) Meyer; also survived by loving
nieces and nephews.
The son of Kenneth and Lorraine Meyer, Don was born and raised in Chicago
with his siblings, Ken and Cheryl. Growing up, Don enjoyed fast cars,
baseball and stylish clothes. Don and Doris met at church and began dating in
their teens. They attended Wheaton College together, where Don majored in
business and played catcher for the Wheaton baseball team. They graduated,
married and moved to Hamburg, NY, in 1957, when Don joined Baillie Lumber,
then a three-person company. After purchasing Baillie five years later, Don grew
the business into the largest North American hardwood company, while raising
three children with Doris, and later enjoying seven grandchildren and eight
great-grandchildren.
The funeral was held at the F.E. Brown Sons Funeral Home. Family and
friends were invited to attend the funeral service.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Don's memory may be made to Jericho Road
Community Health Center (184 Barton Street, Buffalo, New York 14213) or
www.jrchc.org/donate-form. n
Gregory Howell Hubble, 60, of High Point, NC,
died Friday, December 22, 2023. He was born
October 18, 1963, in Pittsburgh, PA, the son of
Elizabeth H. Hubble and the late David H. Hubble.
He is survived by his loving wife of 38 years,
Colleen Hubble, his sons Dalton Gregory Hubble
(Rachel Kennedy) of San Francisco, CA and Nathan
Martin Hubble of Cleveland, OH, his mother
Elizabeth Hubble of High Point, NC, his brothers
David Mark Hubble of Columbus, OH and Jay
Howard Hubble (Reben Garza) of Fennville, MI.
Gregory Hubble Hubble was a proud graduate of Penn State
University Mont Alto with a degree in Forestry.
After graduation Hubble entered the hardwood lumber industry where he built a
career spanning almost forty years with industry leaders such as Mann & Parker
Lumber, Gutchess Lumber Company, Aetna Plywood, Seemac and lastly Prime
Lumber Company where he dedicated 14 years as General Manager overseeing
the Thomasville, NC and Eastview, KY operations. His extensive knowledge
base as well as exuberant personality made an impact wherever he went, and his
presence will be dearly missed.
Hubble was also deeply dedicated to friends and congregation as an Elder and
member of Forest Hills Presbyterian Church and an enthusiastic volunteer for
Operation Inasmuch. He was also an avid master woodworker, gardener, pit master
and outdoorsman. He was an intensely devoted and loving husband, father,
brother and son who was looking forward to the birth of his first granddaughter.
A celebration of life was held on Saturday December 30, 2023 at Forest Hills
Presbyterian Church, High Point, NC.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the
following organizations: American Heart Association and the Boys & Girls Club
of Greater High Point. n
In Memoriam
Michael Scott Hoover, 74, of Broadway, VA,
passed away December 26, 2023, at Woodland Park
Burkholder House of VMRC.
The most important relationship in his life was
with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He started
every day by reading his bible. He was a former
board member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Hoover was the president and procurement manager
of Neff Lumber Mills. He was the chairman
of Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturing, Inc., a
member of Virginia and West Virginia Forestry Association
and a member of the National Hardwood
Michael Hoover
Lumber Association. Hoover was a lifetime member
of Broadway Volunteer Fire Department, where he served as Chief, and was
fireman of the year. He served as president of Rockingham County Firefighters
Association and played an instrumental role in implementing the 911 system and
Bergton Station #55. He was a former member of Broadway Rescue Squad.
Hoover loved playing golf and was a member at Spotswood Country Club.
In July 1990 he made two holes in one in the same day at Old White Course
and Lakeside Course at Greenbrier Resort. He loved being involved in his sons’
sports, coaching Little League baseball for Matthew and Mark.
On October 11, 1975, he married the former Anne Hiner, who survives.
Also surviving are two sons, Matthew Scott Hoover of Broadway, Mark
Warren Hoover and wife Tiffany of Moseley, VA; grandchildren, Haley Dawn
Hoover, Avery Grace Hoover, Peyton Rene’ Hoover, Sawyer Kent Hoover; two
brothers, Eric Hoover and wife Brenda of Broadway, Christopher Hoover and
wife Karen of Broadway; a number of nieces and nephews.
Pastors Barb Shaw and Bill Fitchett conducted a funeral service on January
3, 2024, at Sunset Drive United Methodist Church in Broadway. The burial
followed at Linville Creek Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Broadway Fire
Department, P.O. Box 271, Broadway, VA 22815. n
TRANSPORTATION SURVEY - Continued from page 6
power on the West Coast of both the U.S. and Canada. Montreal port workers and
employers have hit an impasse in contract negotiations, bringing back memories
of a five-day strike in 2021 and a 19-day strike in 2020 at Canada’s second-largest
port. And the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) has already raised
the prospect of a strike at U.S. East and Gulf coast ports after its contract expires
at the end of September 2024, the first time that would happen since 1977.
Sustainability has taken center stage in the maritime sector. With increasing
awareness of environmental issues, there is a growing emphasis on adopting
eco-friendly practices. Shipowners are investing in green technologies, including
alternative fuels, wind-assisted propulsion, and energy-efficient designs, to reduce
the carbon footprint of ocean transportation. Regulatory bodies are also tightening
environmental standards, pushing the industry towards more sustainable practices.
The push for sustainable shipping practices is expected to gain even more
momentum in 2024. Governments, consumers and industry players are likely to
collaborate further to implement stricter environmental regulations. The adoption
of alternative fuels, such as hydrogen and ammonia, is expected to increase, and
more vessels will incorporate green technologies to meet evolving sustainability
standards, such as the EU Emission Trading System (ETS) surcharges from
carriers.
Looking ahead to 2024, the industry is poised for further transformation, driven
by a collective commitment to efficiency, sustainability and adaptability. The key
to success lies in embracing change, leveraging technology, and forging strategic
partnerships to sail through the challenges and opportunities that lie on the horizon.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone in our industry a healthy
and prosperous 2024. Thank you all for your continued support through out the
years.
As we bring in 2024 a little advice on progress from Mr. Lincoln: “I’m a slow
walker but I never walk backwards.”
Stephen A. Zambo
The AGL Group
Jacksonville, FL
2023 was a very interesting year. There are trends
within the marketplace that we see year over year,
decade over decade. The trends may have some
variability, think COVID, but outside of that, trends
have remained relatively spot on over the long term.
In 2023, we saw the first quarter buck normal export
trends. We typically see a slow January and February
Stephen A. Zambo with freight picking up in March. This past year
we saw a very strong first and second quarter.
Export volumes took a large hit from June all the way through about October in
2023. That is more in line with how traditional markets have been in the past.
In 2023, the supply chain issues were nothing in comparison to 2021 and 2022.
2023 has been stable. Trucking availability has been a non-issue and steamship
lines on most lanes have availability. Of course, this fluctuates from time to time,
but rarely is a booking more than two weeks out as it stands. One item to keep an
eye on is a potential strike on the East Coast sometime in 2024. After negotiating
record deals on the West Coast, the union on the East Coast is saying that it will
hold firm by striking in 2024 if there is not a new deal negotiated. That would be a
very large issue for the forest products industry as 80 percent of hardwood exports
are routed via the East Coast. Until there is more concrete information and the
date of strike approaches, this is something to monitor.
A very important topic no one talks about when looking forward at freight
rates is the amount of steamship line capacity coming onto the market in the next
18 months. On average there are about 375,000 containers worth of new space
entering the market annually. In 2024 alone there is north of 1,200,000 containers
worth of new ship builds coming online. Unit economics lead us to the obvious
conclusion of continued cheap freight rates. More space with the same demand
equals low freight rates. More space with less demand equals low freight rates. I
am confused as to what the steamship line carriers are doing from a unit economics
standpoint.
At the end of 2023, we were back to enjoying historically low freight rate levels.
The rates have no where to go but up. I do not believe we will see large increases,
10-15 percent over the course of 2024 on the ocean carrier side. Trucking companies
on the other hand are having a very challenging time. There is less freight
both on the export and import side, with more trucking capacity leading to reduced
trucking rates over the last six months. I believe you will see some companies
reduce fleet size, close their doors or start to increase prices. They do not have an
option.
Containers are readily available at the ports and are not readily available at
some inland locations. I expect this trend to remain as it typically does. The cost of
containers are stable for now, and may increase over the next year or so by about
10-15 percent.
Shipping volumes in the fourth quarter were higher than what we forecasted
based off of the second quarter and the third quarter. Economists and banks are
calling for around 2 percent global growth in 2024. If that actually happens, we
will see modest gains in export volumes, however, I am not so certain that we will
actually see 2 percent growth. Asking me to predict shipping volumes in the first
quarter of 2024 is akin to throwing spaghetti at the wall and seeing “what sticks.”
Where the economy goes is anyone’s guess. We are heading into an election
year with much uncertainty. There are currently multiple wars globally, interest
rates have been elevated compared to the last decade and inflation has been
a major issue. The only constant across all industries is that margins are being
squeezed. Going into the New Year, we can all be hopeful that the economy starts
to pick back up, but I am not sure that is what we will see.
Continued on page 32
Page 28 Import/Export Wood Purchasing News n February/March 2024
Import/Export Wood Purchasing News n February/March 2024 Page 29

Import/Export Timber Products' Stock Exchange
NORTHERN WHITE BIRCH
4/4, SEL/BTR, REGULAR, KD, RL/RW – 2 T/L
4/4, SEL/BTR, SAP/BTR, KD, RL/RW – 1 T/L
4/4, #1 COM, SAP/BTR, KD, RL/RW – 3 T/L
4/4, #2&3A COM, UNS, KD, RL/RW – 1 T/L
NORTHERN CHERRY
8/4, SEL/BTR, 90/70+, KD, RL/RW – 1 T/L
NORTHERN WHITE OAK
4/4, SEL/BTR, RL/RW, KD – 3 T/L
5/4, SEL/BTR, RL/RW, KD – 1 T/L
5/4, #1 COM, RL/RW, KD – 1 T/L
6/4, SEL/BTR, RL/RW, KD – 2 T/L
8/4, SEL/BTR, RL/RW, KD – 1 T/L
NORTHERN RED OAK
4/4, SEL/BTR, RL/RW, KD – 1 T/L
4/4, #1 COM, RL/RW, KD – 2 T/L
5/4, SEL/BTR, RL/RW, KD – 2 T/L
NORTHERN HARD MAPLE
4/4, SEL/BTR, REGULAR, RL/RW, KD – 2 T/L
4/4, SEL/BTR, SAP/BTR, RL/RW, KD – 3 T/L
4/4, SEL/BTR, SAP 1 FACE, RL/RW KD – 1 T/L
4/4, #1 COM, SAP 1 FACE, RL/RW, KD – 2 T/L
4/4, #2A COM, SAP OR REG, RL/RW, KD – 1 T/L
5/4, SEL/BTR, SAP/BTR, RL/RW, KD – 1 T/L
5/4, #1 COM, SAP/BTR, RL/RW, KD – 2 T/L
EUROPEAN BEECH
8/4, SEL/BTR UNS, RL/RW, KD – 1 T/L
NORTHERN YELLOW BIRCH
4/4, SEL/BTR, UNS, ALSO SAP/B OR REG, KD– 2 T/L
4/4, #1 COM, UNS, ALSO SAP/B, KD – 1 T/L
5/4, SEL/BTR, UNS, ALSO SAP/B OR REG, KD – 2 T/L
5/4, #2A COM, SAP/BTR, RL/RW, KD – 1 T/L
6/4, SEL/BTR, UNS, RL/RW, KD – 3 T/L
6/4, #1 COM, UNS, RL/RW, KD – 2 T/L
6/4, #2A COM, UNS, RL/RW, KD – 1 T/L
8/4, SEL/BTR, UNS, RL/RW, KD – 2 T/L
8/4, #1 COM, UNS, ALSO SAP/B, KD – 1 T/L
NORTHERN SOFT MAPLE
4/4, SEL/BTR, UNS, ALSO, SAP/B, KD – 1 T/L
4/4, #1 COM & BTR, WORMY, RL/RW, KD – 1 T/L
5/4, SEL/BTR, UNS, ALSO SAP/B, KD – 1 T/L
6/4, SEL/BTR, UNS, RL/RW, KD – 1 T/L
NORTHERN ASPEN
4/4, SEL/BTR, UNS, RL/RW, KD – 2 T/L
800-361-8667
info@simonlussier.com
FOR SALE
Cole Hardwood Inc.
P. O. Box 568
Logansport, Indiana 46947
574-753-3151 Fax: 574-753-2525
5 8/4 S&B Basswood
5 6/4 S&B Poplar
5 4/4 2 Com Beech
5 8/4 S&B Poplar
6 6/4 S&B Beech
5 10/4 S&B Poplar
5 6/4 1 Com Beech
4 12/4 S&B Poplar
5 4/4 S&B Unsel. Hard Maple
5 7/4 2 Com Red Oak
5 6/4 1 Com Unsel. Hard Maple
5 4/4 2 Com Soft Maple
5 8/4 S&B Unsel. Hard Maple
5 6/4 S&B Soft Maple
5 5/4 1 Com Hickory
5 6/4 1 Com Soft Maple
5 5/4 2 Com Hickory
5 8/4 S&B Soft Maple
5 6/4 S&B Hickory
5 10/4 S&B Soft Maple
5 6/4 1 Com Hickory
5 12/4 S&B Soft Maple
5 5/4 2 Com Poplar
5 4/4 1 Com White Oak
E-mail at: brian@colehardwood.com
Home page: www.colehardwood.com
KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST INDUSTRY NEWS
millerwoodtradepub.com
LOG SALES
Veneer Logs 3 & 4 sides clear, Rotary Logs, and Saw Logs
White Oak • Walnut • Hickory • Red Oak • Hard Maple • Cherry • Yellow Poplar
Loads Built to Customer Specifications
Contact: Kasey Chaney, Director of Export Sales
E-Mail: KASEYC@YODERLUMBER.COM
Address: Rolling Ridge Woods, LTD
10095 Emerson Ave, Parkersburg, WV 26104
(304) 464-4980
FOR SALE
GENUINE MAHOGANY
CEREJEIRA
SPANISH CEDAR
SANTOS MAHOGANY
AFRICAN MAHOGANY
JATOBA
TORNILLO / MARA MACHO
GENUINE MAHOGANY FLOORING
JEQUITIBA
NEWMAN LUMBER COMPANY
Gulfport Sales Staff: Bill,
Doug & Pam
Phone: 1-800-647-9547 or
(228) 831-1149
Website: newmanlumber.com
Mailing Address:
PO Box 2580 - Gulport , MS
39505-2580
Follow us on
Hermitage Hardwood Lumber Sales, Inc.
105 Ridgedale Drive
Cookeville, TN 38501 U.S.A.
P.O. Box 698 • Cookeville, TN 38503 U.S.A.
931-526-6832 • 931-526-4769 Fax
E-mail: info@hermitagehardwood.com
lawson@hermitagehardwood.com
Website: www.hermitagehardwood.com
Contact: Parker Boles, Adam Moran,
Steve Gunderson
Lawson Maury - Export
ASH
4/4 FAS W1F 15/16 8m’
5/4 FAS 6m’
6/4 FAS 15m’
8/4 FAS 15m’
BASSWOOD
4/4 FAS 13m’
5/4 FAS 15m’
CHERRY
4/4 FAS 8.5” wider 20m’
5/4 FAS 18m’
HICKORY
4/4 FAS 5” 20m’
4/4 FAS 7.5” wider 18m’
WHITE OAK
4/4 FAS 40m’
4/4 FAS R2E 4.5” 6m’
4/4 FAS R2E 5” 10m’
4/4 FAS R2E 5.5” 8m’
4/4 FAS R2E 6” 4m’
5/4 FAS 55m’
6/4 FAS 60m’
6/4 FAS 5-6” 12m’
6/4 FAS 6-7” 11m’
8/4 FAS 12m’
FOR SALE
Import/Export Timber Products' Stock Exchange
POPLAR
4/4 FAS 17m’
4/4 FAS 15/16 15m’
5/4 FAS 17m’
6/4 FAS 20m’
7/4 FAS 40m’
7/4 FAS 12” wider 22m’
8/4 FAS 50m’
8/4 FAS 12” wider 23m’
9/4 FAS 14m’
10/4 FAS 8m’
10/4 FAS 12” wider 14m’
RED OAK
4/4 FAS 7.5” wider 15m’
4/4 FAS 10” wider 30m’
5/4 FAS 10” wider 18m’
6/4 FAS 50m’
6/4 FAS 10” wider 35m’
7/4 FAS 20m’
7/4 FAS 10” wider 15m’
8/4 FAS 50m’
8/4 FAS 10” wider 20m’
WALNUT
4/4 FAS 12m’
6/4 FAS 15m’
FOR SALE
PENN-SYLVAN INTERNATIONAL
Spartansburg, Pennsylvania U.S.A.
Phone: 814-654-7111
Fax: 814-654-7155
Email: pennsylvan@gmail.com
www.lumber12.com
Northern Appalachian Lumber
Kiln Dried
2 x 40ʼ 3/4 Ash Uns. FAS (prime),
#1 Com, #2 Com
2 x 40ʼ 4/4 Ash Unselected FAS
2 x 40ʼ 4/4 Ash Unselected #1 Com
2 x 40ʼ 7/4 Ash FAS
2 x 40ʼ 4/4 Cherry FAS (prime)
and #1 Com
2 x 40ʼ 4/4 Hard Maple
FAS (prime) #1+2 white
2 x 40ʼ 4/4 Hard Maple
#1 Com sap & better
2 x 40ʼ 3/4 Red Oak FAS (prime),
#1 Com, #2 Com
2 x 40ʼ 4/4 Red Oak FAS (prime)
and #1 Com
Shipping Dry Lumber
Inquiries Welcome
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4/4 ASH
FAS, 1COM, 2COM
6/4 ASH
FAS, 1COM, 2COM
4/4 HARD MAPLE
FAS, 1COM, 2COM
4/4 HICKORY
FAS, 1COM, 2COM
5/4 HICKORY
FAS, 1COM, 2COM
FOR SALE
CLARK LUMBER COMPANY INC.
Specializing In
APPALACHIAN HARDWOOD LUMBER
www.clarklumbercompany.com
552 PUBLIC WELL ROAD
RED BOILING SPRINGS, TN 37150
PHONE: 615-699-3497
EMAIL: info@clarklumbercompany.com
Call or Email: Brandon Clark: bclark@clarklumbercompany.com
Joseph Draper: jdraper@clarklumbercompany.com
“FROM OUR FOREST TO YOUR FACILITY”
KD ITEMS AVAILABLE
4/4 POPLAR
FAS, 1COM, 2COM
6/4 POPLAR
FAS, 1COM
8/4 POPLAR
FAS, 1COM
4/4 RED OAK
FAS, 1COM, 2COM
6/4 RED OAK
FAS, 1COM
8/4 RED OAK
FAS, 1COM
3 SAWMILL LOCATIONS
5,000,000 BF INVENTORY
800,000’ KILN CAPACITY
Read our current and past
issues online at
4/4 SOFT MAPLE
FAS, 1COM, 2COM
4/4 WALNUT
FAS, 1COM, 2COM
4/4 WHITE OAK
FAS, 1COM, 2COM
6/4 FAS WHITE OAK
FAS, 1COM, 2COM
OTHER ITEMS
PALLET CANTS
CROSS TIES
Miller
P.O. Box 34908 Memphis, TN 38184-0908
Phone: (800) 844-1280 or (901) 372-8280
Fax: (901) 373-6180
Miller Wood Trade Publications proudly serves the
Forest Products Industry with the following
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www.importedwoodpurchasing.com
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www.softwoodbuyer.com
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Page 30 Import/Export Wood Purchasing News n February/March 2024
Import/Export Wood Purchasing News n February/March 2024 Page 31

TRANSPORTATION SURVEY - Continued from page 29
Curtis Struyk
TMX Shipping Co., Inc.
Morehead City, NC
Even though the pressures and bottlenecks that
the transportation industry was experiencing in 2022
have subsided, our export numbers have decreased.
Our lumber and log shipments overall are down 20
percent year over year.
We slowly saw the industry normalize over the last
12 months and it is back to pre-pandemic levels. I do
Curtis Struyk
not foresee any substantial increases in our export
shipments over the next 12 months. Ongoing changes
in global trade dynamics, regulations and geopolitical situations can influence
supply chain strategies. Business may need to stay agile and adapt to evolving
trade environments.
Transportation rates are back to the levels we saw in 2019 and I do not see anything
in the near future that is going to change that other than some global event
such as natural disasters, geopolitical issues or pandemics.
We are not currently seeing any real shortages in ocean containers at the major
ports but we are seeing spotty shortages at some of our inland locations because of
the decrease in imports replenishing those container pools.
We saw a little uptick in shipments in the fourth quarter over the third quarter
since the log season got off to a decent start. All indications are we should have a
good log season that will carry into late spring 2024.
The U.S. Federal Reserve plays a crucial role in managing inflation and interest
rates. Changes in these factors can influence borrowing costs, spending and investment.
Consumer spending is a significant driver of the U.S. economy. Factors
such as consumer confidence, household income and access to credit can impact
spending patterns. The interconnectedness of global economy means that international
events, trade relations and geopolitical tensions can have repercussions
for the U.S. economy and U.S. exports. China still accounts for 50 percent of our
lumber and log exports. When half of our business is reliant on China and given
the current tensions between the two countries, it makes us very concerned about
our future. n
NEWSWIRES
Atlanta Hardwood Corporation
Announces Sale of Crystal Spring
Hardwoods
Atlanta Hardwood Corporation, located in
Atlanta, GA, which goes to market as AHC
Hardwood Group, specializes in providing
Jim Howard premium domestic and exotic hardwoods to
customers throughout the U.S. and around
the world. Strategically, AHC Hardwood Group has focused on
value-added manufacturing.
Atlanta Hardwood Corporation has announced the sale of
Crystal Spring Hardwoods, LLC to Eby Sawmill based in
Clearville, PA.
The long-term tenure and excellent workforce in place at
Crystal Spring were very important to Eby. The deal closed in
January 2024. This transaction offers growth opportunities for
both parties.
According to Atlanta Hardwood Corporation CEO, Jim
Howard, “Eby Sawmill has been a long-term valued supplier
to our drying yard in Pennsylvania and AHC Hardwood Group
will continue to buy lumber from their production.” Howard
added, “Our ability to change and adapt to meet the needs of
our customers and the evolving landscape of our industry has
allowed us to grow from a single drying yard to a world-class,
value-added manufacturer.”
Atlanta Hardwood Corporation has been producing premium
Appalachian hardwoods since 1952. Over the past two
decades, the company has diversified from kiln drying yards
to value-added manufacturing, offering a diverse mix of hardwood
lumber and finished products, including more than 1,000
moulding profiles, VikingWood® thermally modified hardwoods
and imported Lunawood siding and decking. Atlanta
Hardwood Corporation imports and exports lumber all around
the world.
For more information about AHC Hardwood Group, visit
www.hardwoodweb.com.
Clark Hardwoods LLC Makes
Capital Improvements
Clark Hardwoods LLC, located in Erin,
TN, recently put in a Cleereman combination
optimized edger. The mill is undergoing
some other capital improvements regarding
Brandon Clark material handling that should be complete
late spring/early summer 2024, according to
Brandon Clark, Vice-President of Clark Lumber Company.
The mill’s annual production is 10 million board feet, pro-
Continued on page 34
woodpurchasingnews.com
READ
EVERY
ISSUE
ONLINE
millerwoodtradepub.com
CLARK LUMBER COMPANY
• 6 sawmills producing 48,000,000’ of Appalachian Hardwoods 4/4 - 8/4
• 900,000’ drying capacity
552 Public Well Road • Red Boiling Springs, TN 37150
Office: (615) 699-3497
• 2,500,000’ kiln dried Lumber Inventory
• Species: Red & White Oak, Hard & Soft Maple, Poplar, Ash, Cherry, Hickory,
Walnut and Aromatic Red Cedar
• Export prep & container loading
• A team of over 130 employees manufacturing Appalachian Hardwoods
Jeff Thomas, Mill Manager, Clark Lumber Company, Lafayette, TN; Jeff
Shoulders, Procurement Manager, Joseph Draper, Sales, Brandon Clark,
Vice President, Hugh Clark, President, Tony Presley, Kiln Operator,
Parrish Wright, Log Procurement/Logistics, Scotty Dyer, Yard Foreman,
Clark Lumber Company, Red Boiling Springs, TN
“From our Forest to your Facility”
Brandon Clark
bclark@clarklumbercompany.com
Joseph Draper
jdraper@clarklumbercompany.com
www.clarklumbercompany.com
Page 32 Import/Export Wood Purchasing News n February/March 2024
Import/Export Wood Purchasing News n February/March 2024 Page 33

NEWSWIRES
Continued from page 33
ducing Red and White Oak, Hard Maple, Poplar, Ash, Cherry,
Hickory and Walnut, which they export. The operation
provides planing services and has 125,000 board feet of
drying capacity. The company, headquartered in Red Boiling
Springs, TN, produces 50 million board feet of Appalachian
hardwoods in thicknesses ranging from 4/4-8/4.
For more information, visit www.clarklumbercompany.
com.
Merrick Hardwoods Welcomes
Chad Hinton
tion as a pioneer in wood scanning solutions.
MiCROTEC is a global technology partner for the wood
processing industry, constantly developing new approaches
and solutions to add value to the sawmilling and wood processing
industry.
For more information, visit www.microtec.us.
IWT-MOLDRUP Seeks To Bring Thermal Wood
Modification To The Forefront Of The Industry
www.bingamanlumber.com
Merrick Hardwoods located in Somerset,
KY, is pleased to introduce Chad
Hinton as the Hardwood Flooring Sales
Manager. Hinton is replacing Diana
Gurley who recently retired after 35 years
Chad Hinton
with the company. In his new role Hinton
will oversee all of Merrick’s unfinished hardwood flooring
sales. Merrick produces and exports unfinished solid flooring
in both Red and White Oak, Hard Maple and Hickory.
Hinton graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2011
with a bachelor’s degree in economics. Upon graduation
Hinton entered the United States Air Force where he served
his country for six years as an Airborne Systems Engineer.
He returned to Somerset, KY and worked for four years with
a convenience store distribution company as the Equipment
Service and Sales Manager.
Hinton and his wife Sarah have one son. He is an avid
golfer and plays as much as possible.
For more information visit www.merrickgroup.com or
call 606-561-4146.
MiCROTEC Appoints Ofer
Heyman As New Corvallis CEO
MiCROTEC, a global leader in innovative
scanning solutions for the wood products
industry, is pleased to announce the
appointment of Ofer Heyman as its new
Ofer Heyman Chief Executive Officer in Corvallis, OR.
Heyman brings a wealth of experience and
a background in the industry, making him a valuable addition
to the MiCROTEC team.
Prior to returning to MiCROTEC, Heyman served an impressive
17-year tenure at Lucidyne Technologies, acquired
by MiCROTEC in 2020. Beginning as an image processing
engineer in 1999, Heyman assumed roles like senior product
and project manager, director of business development, and
ultimately, director of operations from 2014 to 2016.
Frank Jöst, MiCROTEC Group CEO, expressed his enthusiasm
about Ofer’s return, “We are happy that we convinced
Ofer to come back to Corvallis and support us as we continue
the MiCROTEC vision for the North American Market.”
MiCROTEC looks forward to leveraging Heyman’s leadership
and industry experience to further strengthen its posi-
An IWT-MOLDRUP turn-key thermal modification plant with an annual capacity of more
than 2 million board feet.
Thermal wood modification is moving to the next stage in
the U.S. with the MOLDRUP process. “The
MOLDRUP
plants, which is in a closed process, as opposed to the Finnish
and Italian plants on the market, is a controlable process.
This means that you do not have the same problems with
the final piece of wood, such as brittleness etc. This is also
better for the environment, as the energy consumption is half
of that of other plants and is very easy to operate,” said Lone
Moldrup, CEO of IWT-MOLDRUP.
Thermal wood modification as a supplement and sometimes
an alternative to boicide based chemical wood impregnation
has been available for almost 30 years around the
globe. The demand and production of thermally modified
wood has increased rapidly in Europe and Oceania over the
past few years.
The price of thermally modified timber is substantially
higher than that of treatment with CCA and MCA, but with
a new series of plants from IWT-MOLDRUP, the production
costs have been reduced to be similar to those for biocide
wood impregnation.
According to a company representative, thermal modification
is still being done by specialist companies, but with the
development of IWT-MOLDRUP’s new series of plants, it is
moving towards being integrated into sawmill operations.
More production capacity in the U.S. with these plants that
have a potential annual capacity of 2 – 2.5 million board
feet, is a natural development as many American wood species
are very suitable for thermal modification.
It is important to understand the benefits and limitations of
thermal modification. The major advantage is the drastically
improved dimensional stability (50-80 percent improve-
Continued on page 36
www.Penn-Sylvan.com
Page 34 Import/Export Wood Purchasing News n February/March 2024
Import/Export Wood Purchasing News n February/March 2024 Page 35

WHEELAND LUMBER CO., INC. • FORESTRY PARTNERSHIPS • WHEELAND LUMBER CO., INC • FORESTRY PARTNERSHIPS •
NEWSWIRES Continued from page 35
Join Us in San Diego
for
International Wood Products Association’s
68th World of Wood Convention
APRIL 10 - 12, 2024
REGISTER
TODAY at
IWPAwood.org
The
Networking Hub
of Global Wood Trade.
ment), the uniform brown color even through the heartwood
and enhanced durability against rot and fungi use area occasionally
wetted like cladding, whereas thermally modified
wood for frequently wetted applications like decking will
require an extra layer of protection against fungi and insects.
For more information please contact the Moldrups at www.
moldrup.com or our North American import- and selling
agent at www.americanwoodtechnology.com.
Eric Gee
According to the Southern Forest Products
Association (SFPA), with the loss of
tens of millions dollars in export sales to
China, the U.S. wood industry is looking
for alternative markets. That’s why Eric
Gee, executive director of SFPA and Jerry Hingle, SFPA
international consultant, traveled to Thailand recently for a
wood seminar and trade opportunities mission.
Thailand is an attractive emerging market for Southern
Pine as furniture manufacturers operating in China shift
production to Thailand and elsewhere in Asia. Furniture
production presents the best prospect for U.S. softwoods in
Thailand, as much of the production there is exported to the
U.S., Europe and Japan, where buyers prefer softwood furniture
compared to tropical hardwoods that appear “heavy”
and dark.
However, the sustainability and legality of tropical woods
in Thailand can be dubious, so using U.S. softwoods makes
it considerably easier to prove sustainability and legal origin
as the U.S. and Europe tighten regulations
on wood components used in imported
furniture.
Other end-use opportunities, include
wood pallets, doors and flooring. While
more homebuilders are embracing imported
softwoods for wood-frame homes, this
Jerry Hingle
SFPA Visits Thailand For A
Wood Seminar And Trade
Opportunities
is still considered a niche, as builders rely
almost exclusively on concrete and steel.
Manufacturers typically source logs for processing at their
facilities rather than lumber, as low average wages provide
little incentive for large, well-financed operations to outsource
finished lumber.
Lumber imports are growing, and what little softwood
lumber they source is primarily supplied by New Zealand,
Canada and the U.S. Thailand imported $622,000 of softwood
lumber from the U.S. in 2022 but exports, including
treated lumber, are up by 172 percent through September
2023 over the previous year.
This trip allowed Gee and Hingle to meet with prominent
importers/traders for valuable insight into the current landscape
of the wood industry, including learning about existing
challenges and uncovering potential avenues for collaboration
with SFPA.
They had productive and informative meetings with key
lumber traders and specifiers at Interwood and CPD sawmill,
BP Group Timber Processing Plant and numerous furniture
purveyors. Numerous questions centered on lumber prices
and the desire to procure logs instead of sawn lumber.
Gee and Hingle also hosted a seminar in Bangkok for 42
participants, which included lumber traders, architects and
furniture manufacturers.
Gee spoke on Southern Pine lumber grades, sustainable
forestry practices and why wood is a smart climate choice.
Hingle presented on Southern Pine lumber characteristics,
design considerations for areas prone to high wind and earthquakes,
pressure-treated wood and termite prevention.
SFPA considers the seminar and one-on-one meetings to
have been productive and informative. Going forward, SFPA
will consider a more focused look at wood used in furniture
manufacturing and less emphasis on wood-frame construction.
For more information visit www.sfpa.org.
Import/Export Calendar of Events
FEBRUARY
Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen's Assoc., Convention,
Indianapolis Marriott Downtown, Indianapolis, IN. Feb. 5-7.
NAHB IBS, Las Vegas Conv. Ctr., Las Vegas, NV. Feb. 27-29.
APRIL
IWPA 68th World of Wood Convention, San Diego, CA. www.
iwpawood.org. April 10-12.
Montreal Wood Convention, Fairmont the Queen Elizabeth
Hotel, Montreal, QC. April 9-11
• Forest Managed Timber
• Veneer Logs and #1 Saw Logs
• Lumber:
• Ash
• Basswood
• Beech
• Cherry
• Maples
• Red and
White Oak
• Poplar
• Clear Strips
• Solid Dimensions
• Band Headrig and Band Resaw Mill
• 500,000 BF of Dry Kilns - 1,500,000 of Dry Storage
• Grading to Overseas Standards
Phone: (570) 324-6042 • Fax (570) 324-2127
Contact: Derek Wheeland, Sales • derek@wheelandlumber.com
Bill Baker, Sales • bill@wheelandlumber.com
Damen Wheeland, Log Sales • damen@wheelandlumber.com
Sean Karzynski, Lumber Sales • sean@wheelandlumber.com
Website: www.wheelandlumber.com
FITZPATRICK & WELLER
12 Mill Street · PO Box 490 · Ellicottville, NY 14731
www.fitzweller.com · sales@fitzweller.com
Ph: 716-699-2393
Fax: 716-699-2893
REAL
AMERICAN
HARDWOOD
Ask for our FSC ® certifi ed products.
Page 36 Import/Export Wood Purchasing News n February/March 2024
Import/Export Wood Purchasing News n February/March 2024 Page 37

A guide to
U.S./CANADIAN SOFTWOOD FOREST PRODUCT EXPORT SUPPLIERS
A guide to
U.S./CANADIAN SOFTWOOD FOREST PRODUCT EXPORT SUPPLIERS
ADS IN THIS SECTION OF THE IMPORT/EXPORT WOOD
PURCHASING NEWS ARE FREE WITH A QUALIFYING AD PROGRAM IN
THE SOFTWOOD FOREST PRODUCTS BUYER
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QUALITY PEOPLE CREATING
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Toll Free: (877) 318-5261
Fax: (214) 358-2383
Web site: richardsontimbers.com
SERVING THE SOUTH SINCE 1949
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Skana Forest Products Ltd.
specializes in wholesale softwood
lumber, plywood, fencing and
the manufacturing of specialty
Western Red Cedar
B.C. 1.604.273.5441
Florida 1.954.202.1001
Quebec 1.450.281.1971
503-631-4408
www.bowersfp.com
Softwood Drying Solutions
WWW.GATESMILLING.COM
End Tally with
ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE
AW STILES 2X2.indd 1
1/11/19 3:42 PM
www.bc.com/ewp
www.woodwayproducts.com
Sales: Jeff@bowersfp.com
HUMBOLDT’S FINEST
Humboldt Sawmill is your
source for top-quality
Redwood and Douglas-fir
dimensional lumber,
timbers, and uppers.
www.nyle.com - kilnsales@nyle.com - (800) 777-6953
tallyexpress.com
neiman enterprises.com
866-466-5254
Phil Hsieh +1 (778) 999-9587
Aspen Pacific Industries Inc. phil@aspenpacific.ca
Manufacturers of
Lumber, Plywood &
Engineered Wood Products
www.bc.com/international-marketing
SISKIYOU 2X2 2019.indd 1
info@siskiyouforestproducts.com
www.siskiyouforestproducts.com
800.427.8253 • 6175 Hwy 273
Anderson, CA 96007
Fir/Larch, SPF, Hem-Fir, Cedar
2x4; 2x6; 2x8
Stud Mill-Usk, WA
Random Mill - Colville, WA
Random Mill-Midway, B.C.
Ponderosa Pine
Rough Green Mill - Eager, AZ
4x4 - 7x9, 8ʼ-16ʼ
(509) 604-5071
www.vaagenbros.com
Vaagen
Brothers Lumber
woodpurchasingnews.com
Your Source for Quality
INDEX OF ADVERTISERS
AGL Group, The......................... 19
AHEC (Amer. Hard. Export Council)...............................................
36
Baillie Lumber Co....................... 14
Banks Hardwoods, Inc................. 3
Baystate Industries, Inc.............. 27
Bingaman & Son Lumber, Inc.....34
Cardin Forest Products................ 9
1/28/19 3:33 PM
Clark Lumber.............................. 33
Cole Hardwood, Inc...................... 6
Elephant Lumber Company.......... 5
Fitzpatrick & Weller..................... 37
Hermitage Hardwood Lumber........
Sales Inc..................................... 17
HHP, Inc..........................................
IWPA (Int’l. Wood Products Assoc.)
................................................... 36
Kretz Lumber Co., Inc....................
Lawrence Lumber Co., Inc......... 23
McIlvain, Alan Company.................
NAFF (N. Amer. Forest Foundation)................................................
Neff Lumber Mills, Inc.....................
Newman Lumber Co.................. 40
Nyle Dry Kilns.................................
Penn-Sylvan International, Inc... 35
Primewood.....................................
Ram Forest Products, Inc........... 35
Rolling Ridge Woods Ltd................
Roy Anderson Lumber Co.......... 12
SFPA (So. Forest Prodts. Assoc.)...
....................................................15
San Group.................................... 8
Simon Lussier Ltee..................... 25
TMX Shipping Company, Inc..........
Thompson Appalachian Hardwoods..........................................11
Transit King City/Northway Forw....
Ltd................................................ 7
Wheeland Lumber Co., Inc......... 37
White, Harold, Lumber, Inc.............
WOODBOX................................ 13
Yoder Lumber.................................
www.siidrykilns.com
800-545-6379
Continuous wood
drying greatness
www.valutec.ca
Producing 20 MBF Annually
Manufacturing Eastern White Pine
in 4/4, 5/4 and 6/4 Kiln Dried
1-800-330-8467 • 1-603-473-2314
Fax: 1-603-473-8531
Rte. 153 & King’s Hwy.
Middleton, NH 03887
jmoulton@lavalleys.com
www.dipriziopine.com
MANUFACTURER OF
QUALITY SOFTWOODS
208.377.3000
www.idahotimber.com
EASTERN WHITE PINE.
THE POSSIBLITIES ARE ENDLESS.
Robbins Lumber Inc.
• 2x10 Premium T&G “Loft Flooring”
• 5/4x6 Standard WP4 • Timbers
• 2” D& Btr. S4S Glued and Shaped Threads,
Rails & Balusters • 5/4 D&Btr. Select Trim
• 1x8 Premium D&Btr. T&G “Nickel Gap”
• 20” Wide Pine Flooring
PRODUCING SOME OF THE
HIGHEST QUALITY WOOD PRODUCTS
IN NORTH AMERICA SINCE 1927
J.H. HUSCROFT LTD.
–Est. 1927 –
www.jhhuscroft.com 250-428-3713
Douglas Fir/Larch boards and pattern stock: 1x4–1x12
ESLP boards and pattern stock:1x4–1x12
Douglas Fir/Larch lam stock: 2x4–2x12
RESERVED FOR ADVERTISERS WITH
IDAHO TIMBER 2X2.indd 1
1/18/19 10:24 AM
QUALIFYING AD PROGRAMS IN THE SOFTWOOD
FOREST PRODUCTS BUYER
Page 38 Import/Export Wood Purchasing News n February/March 2024
Import/Export Wood Purchasing News n February/March 2024 Page 39

PROVIDING YOU WITH
QUALITY EXOTIC
HARDWOODS
FOR OVER 75 YEARS
GENUINE MAHOGANY
SPANISH CEDAR
SAPELE
TORNILLO/MARA MACHO
ROIANNE NEWMAN GUTIERREZ, DOUG NEWMAN, AND CINDY NEWMAN
PALO MARIA
JATOBA
CEREJEIRA
JEQUITBA
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