2025 well on track to set new records for U.S. hardwood exports to India

The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) has announced plans to host a networking event and trade servicing mission in Jodhpur in February 2026, ahead of participating in INDIAWOOD 2026. A total of 9 U.S. hardwood exporters in addition to AHEC technical consultants will travel to Jodhpur in Rajasthan in order to conduct a series of factory visits to furniture and handicraft manufacturers. Following this and an evening seminar and networking event in conjunction with the Jodhpur Handicrafts Exporters Association (JHEA), the delegation will head to Bangalore where AHEC is hosting a pavilion at INDIAWOOD, which will run from February 26 - March 2, 2026.

Given the growing interest and demand for temperate hardwoods in India, U.S. hardwood exporters have become increasingly active in India in recent years. Building on previous successful activities that have been jointly hosted by AHEC and JHEA, this latest initiative aims to help strengthen business ties between the manufacturers in Jodhpur and American hardwood exporters. Visits to some of the leading manufacturers and exporters will help the U.S. hardwood suppliers understand the challenges faced by JHEA members in regards to their raw material requirements. At the same time, the seminar and networking event will be an opportunity for JHEA members to learn about American hardwoods and to understand what AHEC is doing to help ensure that the upcoming European Deforestation-free Regulation (EUDR) does not present a barrier to Indian furniture and handicraft exporters through the development and introduction of the American Hardwood Assured (AHA) platform.

"The manufacturers in Jodhpur consume significant volumes of hardwood lumber for the production of furniture and handicrafts, which is almost exclusively for export to the United States, Europe, Australia and the Middle East. More recently, they have had to deal with the challenges of decreasing traditional sources of wood supply, and a strong focus on avoiding any wood products that might come from illegal sources in the main consuming countries of North America and Europe. An effective strategy to overcome these challenges is to manufacture products from American hardwoods, which are not only abundant, but backed by an assurance of legality and sustainability," stated Roderick Wiles, AHEC Regional Director.

Demand for North American hardwood lumber has been increasing in recent years, with 2025 looking set to be another record year for U.S. hardwood lumber exports to India. Whilst the exportfocused furniture and handicraft manufacturers (concentrated in Rajasthan) represent the greatest current market opportunity for U.S. hardwood lumber in India, the greater long-term target market will be manufacturers for domestic consumers. Currently, this market is primarily serviced by smaller furniture, joinery and flooring manufacturers, who offer bespoke solutions and who are not export-focused. However, this is slowly changing with the manufacturers in Jodhpur seeing the potential in the domestic market and evolving to serve Indian customers as well as those overseas.

"India offers massive potential for the consumption of American hardwoods across many different sectors and both for domestic and export manufacturing. Jodhpur is just one center for the production of wooden furniture and handicrafts and there are others in Rajasthan, as well as in other states. The scale of manufacturing is very significant and the requirement for hardwood lumber is substantial and growing. Our seminar and networking event is timely as it offers a perfect forum for the Jodhpur handicrafts sector to meet members of the U.S. hardwood industry in person and to discuss ways of working together, particularly given the pressing need for alternative sources of hardwood lumber in India," concluded Wiles.

The American Hardwood Pavilion at INDIAWOOD 2026 will serve to highlight the variety of American hardwood species while also throwing the spotlight on the benefits of the value-added processes undertaken to supply such a high quality and high yielding kiln-dried raw material. The event will see the participation of nine U.S. hardwood log, lumber and veneer exporters plus the Hardwood States Export Group (HSEG) under the banner of the American Hardwood Pavilion. Participating companies include Amos-Hill Associates, Inc, Baillie Lumber, Church Hardwood Lumber, Devereaux Sawmill, Hartzell Lumber, Kamps Hardwoods, Midwest Hardwood Company LLC, Missouri Walnut, and Wheeland Lumber.