Michael Snow Since 1936
Michael Snow Since 1936 USDA Forest Service Announces .5 Million In Grants To Protect Water, Increase Wood Processing Capacity The USDA Forest Service, in Washington, DC, announced toward the end of 2022 a total of .5 million in grants to help states or federally recognized tribes establish temporary bridge programs to protect water resources during forest-related operations and to assist wood processing facility owners to establish, reopen, retrofit, or expand. The grants are focused on sawmills or other wood processing facilities that purchase and process byproducts from forest restoration activities in areas of severe fire risk and insect or disease infestation. IMPORT/EXPORT Vol.49 No.4 Serving Forest Products Buyers Worldwide FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023 Lumber Shippers View Their Work Realistically And Optimistically The waters are choppy for lumber shipping companies, but they continue doing their due-diligence and seeing positive results. One shipper stated: “Our lumber shipments are lagging now, but we remain hopeful they will continue to increase as we move into the first quarter of 2023.” Another shipper mentioned difficulties, adding: “Our team was able to adapt within the confines of shipping, to not only make it work but to do so We, at AGL view 2022 as an erratic, yet successful year. The last two and a half years have posed very difficult challenges from a logistics perspective. Our team was able to adapt within the confines of shipping, to not only make it work but to do so successfully. The amount of effort input on a daily basis to accomplish what we were able to in 2022 was remarkable. In addition, 2022 was a success, as it opened our eyes in regards to areas of the supply chain that we previously had taken for granted, specifically the ports and PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID JEFFERSON CITY, MO PERMIT NO. 303 Stephen Zambo, Ally Global Logistics Weymouth, MA By Michael Snow, Executive Director American Hardwood Export Council Sterling, VA 703-435-2900 www.ahec.org Import/Export Wood Purchasing News P.O. Box 34908 Memphis, TN 38184-0908 Change Service Requested By Matthew Fite Webinars and Zoom calls have let us meet virtually with anyone in the world from the comfort of our home office, but as any sales rep will tell you, there’s just no substitute for meeting with potential customers in person. After a much more normal year of travel in 2022, The American Hardwood Export Council is looking forward to a busy schedule of events and opportunities for your company to meet directly with interested global buyers in 2023. www.woodpurchasingnews.com successfully. The amount of effort input on a daily basis to accomplish what we were able to in 2022 was remarkable.” He also said that in 2023, “I believe the U.S. economy will head for a mini- (soft) recession before slowly making its way back.” If optimism is one part of success and hard work is another, then these shippers have put themselves in a position to do well in 2023. their receiving dates. Towards the end of 2022, we saw vessel schedules and receiving dates start to normalize, which was the exact opposite of what we saw at the beginning of 2022. I anticipate this will continue to be a challenge on certain lanes, specifically for inland rail shippers. Another challenge I expect to continue to deal with in 2023 is trucking capacity. There are only so many trucks, and so many moves drivers can do in a day. If more drivers aren’t added in the marketplace, I expect this to be a continued hot button issue. In 2022, we shipped over 34,000 loads, added 28 team members, moved into a new office space in our Jacksonville location and opened up a 52,000 square foot warehouse in Blakeslee, PA. I do not see any rate increases coming from steamship lines as of January 1st. We may see certain routings be increased, but as a market, we were at all-time highs for the last year. As the market normalizes, so will freight rates. In addition, Continued on page 14 2023 AHEC Events And Pavilions Are Opportunities To Connect With Customers And Find New Buyers Each year AHEC attends over 40 trade shows globally to promote American Hardwoods, research market potential and drive local purchasing behavior. In our experience these shows we have selected provide the best opportunity this In addition to what we expect to be a full slate of design, marketing, educational and networking events, AHEC has also planned pavilions at eight of the largest wood trade and furniture trade shows in the world in 2023, as well as an AHEC Convention in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. These pavilions will make premier representation available to American companies at the busiest events of the year for just 0 per booth. In 2023 we plan to host a U.S. Hardwood Pavilion at these events: DelhiWood, New Delhi, India (Mar. 2-5) Dubai Woodshow, Dubai, UAE (Mar. 7-9) Interzum Guangzhou, Guangzhou, China (Mar. 28-31) (Possibly open to Chinese staff only) Interzum Cologne, Cologne, Germany (May 9-12) AHEC Convention, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (June) TechnoMueble, Guadalajara, Mexico (Aug. 16-19) FMC Shanghai, Shanghai, China (Sept. 9-11) (US Participation TBD) VietnamWood 2022, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (Sept. 20-23) INTERMOB, Istanbul, Turkey (Sept. 30-Oct 3) year for an American company to connect with local buyers and build strong relationships. Of course, our participation in all of these events is subject to travel restrictions and health guidelines, and event dates are subject to change. Continued on page 16 WASHINGTON SCENE Mail running slowwwwww? We can’t control mail delays so we are speeding up the way you can get your next issue. Scan and sign-up to get FREE all six digital issues directly to your inbox. The funds, made available by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, support the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s efforts to ensure tribes and historically marginalized or underserved communities receive equal access and opportunities to funding and programs, and to support community efforts vital to forest health. This funding opportunity also follows through on President Biden’s Executive Order directing USDA to scale up rural economic development and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack’s direction to the Forest Service to find new ways to use byproducts from landscape improvement and wildfire mitigation projects to enhance carbon sequestration while creating jobs and economic opportunities. The .5 million being committed includes: •.5 million targeted as financial assistance for owners of facilities that purchase and process byproducts from forest restoration projects including thinning, wildfire resilience activities and habitat management. Owners must identify how their work will use byproducts from areas of high or very high The Import/Export Wood Purchasing News is the leading trade publication helping North American Hardwood and Softwood Exporters of lumber, logs, and other forest products targeting overseas buyers all across the globe! Furthermore, this paper is designed to help North American importers of lumber, plywood, timbers, etc. reach those large volume buyers in the United States and Canada. Scan this QR code with your camera phone to sign-up. risk of severe wildfire or insect and disease infestation based on the high priority firesheds identified in the Forest Service 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy or by using the Wildfire Risk to Communities and National Insect and Disease Risk maps. • million is available to states and tribes to support the establishment of temporary bridge rental, loan or cost-share programs to protect water resources and reduce water quality degradation during forest-related operations. The funding is to help states and tribes create a program that provides portable skidder bridges, bridge mats or other temporary water crossing structures to loggers and others working in forest areas. These bridges will minimize damage from trucks and other equipment in forested areas, especially sensitive wetlands. More information about these funding opportunities is available at Forest Service and on Grants. gov. USDA Forest Service Signs 11 New Agreements To Advance Tribal Co-Stewardship Of National Forests Recently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service in Washington, DC, announced that Continued on page 24 Page 6 Import/Export Wood Purchasing News n February/March 2023 One of three band mills Material Handling System S382 Newman Planer “Bringing You the Best Mother Nature has to Offer Around the Globe!” Dry Kilns Cants being sawn into lumber at the resaw Warehouses Annual Production 22,000,000 Board Feet sawing veneer and sawlogs APPALACHIAN SPECIES AVAILABLE IN 4/4 – 8/4 THICKNESS ASH • HICKORY • POPLAR • RED OAK • WHITE OAK • WALNUT 900,000’ Dry Kiln Capacity • Walnut Steamer • Ripped-to-Width • Planer bhughes@cardinfp.com • rcardin@cardinfp.com ghamaker@cardinfp.com (423) 837-4041 www.cardinfp.com Walnut Steamer Loading a Container for Export Import/Export Wood Purchasing News n February/March 2023 Page 7
