The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), the leading international trade association for the American hardwood industry, has expressed its confidence in the regional demand for American hardwood products in the Middle East region in 2010. The announcement, which was made today (April 13, 2010) during the opening of the ‘Dubai WoodShow 2010’, complements recent AHEC reports showing that exports of US hardwood products in the Middle East and North African (MENA) region reached USD 71 million in 2009. The numbers represent a decrease from the USD 80.6 million figures posted in 2008 but are significantly higher than the USD 62.4 million figures of 2007. Whilst the decline in 2009 was widely anticipated due to the presence of the global economic downturn, AHEC officials remain upbeat given the strong demand for lumber and veneer.
According to AHEC, key countries in the Middle East including the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt will continue to remain important markets for US hardwood products. The UAE in particular, continues to remain an integral market with its role of being the region’s wood processing and redistribution hub. Despite Dubai’s drop in demand over the last eighteen months, the increasing demand for more American hardwood in Abu Dhabi has helped in consolidating the country’s position as a key market for American hardwood. In addition, the KSA market is also expected to post an increased demand to help complement its rapidly developing construction sector while Egypt’s massive furniture and interiors sector is also forecasted to drive in similar increases.
“The growing demand for more American hardwood products in the Middle East has allowed us to look forward to a stronger market presence in the region,” said Roderick Wiles, AHEC Director for Africa, Middle East, South Asia and Oceania. “Participating as the ‘Official Knowledge Partner’ at the ‘Dubai WoodShow 2010’, which is the region’s only wood-focused exhibition, provides us with the strategic vehicle to create new partnerships and business opportunities that can leverage the growing awareness and market knowledge of American hardwoods.”
AHEC is also actively involved in the three new initiatives being introduced at the annual event, including the 'Dubai WoodShow Forum', ‘Dubai WoodShow Roundtables’ and ‘Dubai WoodShow Workshops’. The American pavilion will occupy 144 square metres of floor space at the Dubai Airport Expo, where AHEC will be demonstrating hardwood lumber grading and distributing technical publications on US hardwood species. Among the confirmed speakers who will address the wood industry executives at the Forum are AHEC’s Sustainability Consultant, Rupert Oliver, who will give an update on certification and green building and how these issues affect wood products. In addition, a presentation on the environmental credentials of American hardwoods will be delivered by AHEC Chairman Orn Gudmundsson, Jr, while there will also be a workshop on grading American hardwood lumber to the National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA) rules, presented by Bob Sabistina, AHEC’s Grading Consultant.
“We are confident that our increased activities within the region will build awareness on the advantages of using American hardwoods, not only in terms of quality but also amidst the widespread demand for proof of sustainability. Participating in this year’s Dubai WoodShow demonstrates our steadfast commitment to promoting American hardwoods in key market segments across the Middle East region, allowing us direct interaction with the many wood traders, manufacturers and specifiers across the Middle East and North Africa, and enabling us to create lasting and strategic partnerships,” concluded Wiles.
