US hardwood exports to Middle East & North Africa show continued growth
During the first six months of 2008, total direct exports of American hardwood logs, lumber and veneer to the MENA region grew by 29.3% in value, reaching $38.5 million. The main US hardwood product exported the region - hardwood lumber - saw a marginal downturn in volume terms during the period, falling by 1.1% to 22,187 m3, but rising by 5.8% in value to $16.7 million. At the same time, shipments of both hardwood veneer and logs grew significantly, increasing by 67.0%% to $10.0 million and by 47.6% to $11.8 million (22,322 m3) respectively.
During the first six months of 2008, total direct exports of American hardwood logs, lumber and veneer to the MENA region grew by 29.3% in value, reaching $38.5 million. The main US hardwood product exported the region - hardwood lumber - saw a marginal downturn in volume terms during the period, falling by 1.1% to 22,187 m3, but rising by 5.8% in value to $16.7 million. At the same time, shipments of both hardwood veneer and logs grew significantly, increasing by 67.0%% to $10.0 million and by 47.6% to $11.8 million (22,322 m3) respectively.
With the exception of Saudi Arabia, across the board increases were seen in the value of shipments of US hardwood lumber to the region during the first six months of this year. Overall, shipments of US hardwood lumber to the region grew by 5.8% in value to $16.7 million and the UAE's imports, alone, increased by 11.2% to $4.8 million. Elsewhere, significant increases were seen in shipments to Egypt, Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon during the period, spurred on by major increases in construction activity in these markets. during the first six months of this year.
In terms of species, US hardwood lumber exports to the Middle East continued to be dominated by red oak in the first six months of 2008, which accounted for some 7,218m3 or 32.5% of total exports. However, this percentage is lower than it was during the first half of 2007 (39.0%) and the previous years, when red oak accounted for around 75% of all US hardwood lumber exported to the region. Until this year, this downturn was easily attributed to a change in one market - Saudi Arabia -, which once imported the vast majority of red oak in the region. However, it now seems that there is a general move away from red oak in most MENA region markets and that white oak and ash are becoming far more important. This is mainly due to the influence of US and European fashions in the region, which is where many of the architects and interior designers originate from. Significant increases were seen in shipments of ash to the region, which grew by 18.3% to 5,196m3, as well as white oak, which grew from 1,745m3 in January to June of 2007 to 3,277m3 this year. Increases were also seen in walnut shipments (80.3%), which is very much in fashion for hotel, commercial and residential interiors.
While the Middle East and North Africa market for US hardwood lumber grew marginally during the first six months of this year, direct shipments of hardwood veneer from the United States increased by a very significant 67.0% to a value of $10.0 million. A substantial fall of 37.5% in shipments to the main market - Egypt - was offset by rises in exports to the UAE (344.0%), Turkey (29.6%), Israel (72.5%), Lebanon (209.1%) and Saudi Arabia (66.0%).
For further information on the American Hardwood Export Council and its programme of activities in the Middle East & North Africa, please contact lucy.peacock@ahec.co.uk or melissa.green@ahec.co.uk.
- ends -
Notes to Editor:
American Hardwood Export Council
The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) is the leading international trade association for the US hardwood industry, representing the committed exporters among US hardwood companies and all the major US hardwood production trade associations. AHEC concentrates it efforts on providing architects, specifiers, designers and end-users with technical information on the range of species, products and sources of supply.
The environmental credentials of American hardwoods can be viewed at www.sustainablehardwoods.info
AHEC produce a number of technical publications which are available free of charge by visiting www.ahec-europe.org or faxing (44) 20 7626 4222.
For more press information and photography, please contact:
Melissa Green
Email: melissa.green@ahec.co.uk