01 May 2016

Despite an overall decline in softwood exports, the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) remains a key destination for American softwoods amidst the increasing demand within the region’s booming construction and housing market.

Total exports of US softwood lumber to the Mena region reached a value of $20 million in 2015.

The American Softwoods (AMSO), the promotional organisation for US softwood, is optimistic the situation will improve, given that the UAE registered a whopping 1,127 per cent increase in the value of American softwood lumber exports in January 2016 in comparison to the first month of 2015.

In the region, the UAE remains a key timber processing and re-export hub for the entire region and growth in this market is in line with an overall increase in the global trade of softwood lumber.

According to the Wood Resource Quarterly, softwood lumber trade increased during the first nine months of 2015 as compared to the same period in 2014 and was on track to reach its highest level since 2006.

“The Mena region’s need for high-quality wood products for its construction, furniture, and housing markets, amongst others, creates widespread opportunities for us to assist in the growth of US softwood exports to the region,” says Charles Trevor, consultant to American Softwoods.

“Amidst the increasing calls for sustainability, we remain committed to addressing the long-term demands of the region and will continue to play a key role in providing stakeholders with key environmental data and technical information that can help them use American softwoods to their greatest potential,” he adds.

In line with its aims to increase awareness in the region, AMSO is also taking significant steps to underline the primary benefits of US softwoods, which are available in a wide range of grades and sizes and come from some of the most sustainably managed forests in the world.

Confident of further growth in the region, AMSO participated in the Dubai WoodShow 2016, which was held last month (April 4 to 6) at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Trevor says the UAE market is demonstrating stable growth, which he believes marks an important turning point as customers, manufacturers and other industry players become active again.

“As we continue to monitor increased demand for American softwoods in the UAE and the rest of the Mena region, we will be undertaking further initiatives to highlight the exemplary qualities of our products and how using them can benefit the furniture, construction and other industries in the region,” he says.

AMSO is a promotional partnership formed by three major US softwood trade associations: Southern Forest Products Association (SFPA), Softwood Export Council (SEC) and the Engineered Wood products Association (APA).

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