The hardwood lumber association is on the mend. Many of the 900 business owners in attendance during the National Hardwood Lumber Association's 115th annual convention in Chicago on Sept. 12-15 said they anticipated better days ahead as the industry attempts to better-leverage the export market, according to a recap from the Hardwood Review Express.
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The hardwood lumber association is on the mend. Many of the 900 business owners in attendance during the National Hardwood Lumber Association's 115th annual convention in Chicago on Sept. 12-15 said they anticipated better days ahead as the industry attempts to better-leverage the export market, according to a recap from the Hardwood Review Express.
A number of companies told the Hardwood Review Express that, while they were still concerned over the lack of profits, most wood items were "moving with relative ease," and sawmills are investing in modernization by improving equipment and boosting productivity. Hardwood distributors, meanwhile, said during the convention that their business climate was better and their sales are increasing, despite concerns over trucking workers' regulations and availability.
On the export side, the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) organized a well-attended roundtable for a global perspective of the wood products world. One tenet of discussion was that exports account for 40 percent or more of the graded hardwood production in the U.S., highlighting the importance of exports to the U.S. market. Also, while 10 years ago China was re-exporting 90 percent of lumber it bought from the U.S., today it is using 80 percent of those products domestically. Today, most demand in China is for poplar, red oak, white oak and walnut.
Roundtable participants also discussed how Europe is seeing a "sharp decline" in demand for tropical woods. While Europe remains a white oak market-80 percent of the species consumed in Europe is made into flooring-demand for poplar is also increasing there. Last, roundtable participants reiterated that U.S. producers will likely see little trouble in exporting to the European Union (EU) after its Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan takes effect March 3. This is due to a 2008 report, "Assessment of Lawful Harvesting & Sustainability of US Hardwood Exports," prepared by Seneca Creek Associates LLC-widely regarded as scientific grounds for the assertion that only about 1 percent of the lumber in the U.S. is illegally logged and evidence of "due diligence" here-and AHEC's recent work conducting life cycle assessments (LCAs) of U.S. wood products.
Also, the NHLA elected new leadership during the convention. Scott Heidler, president of Heidler Hardwood Lumber Co. was elected president. He succeeds Dave Redmond, president of Highland Hardwood Sales Inc. Pem Jenkins, president of Turn Bull Lumber Co. will serve as vice president. The NHLA's six new board members are: Mark Cifranick, Baillie Lumber Co.; Shane Cook, Midwest Walnut Co.; Charley Fiala, GMC Hardwoods Inc.; Scott Holley, Industrial Timber & Lumber; Steve Jones, Ron Jones Hardwood Sales; and T.J. Rosengarth, Northwest Hardwoods.
Those in attendance also heard a keynote address from former NFL coach Mike Ditka, who discussed leadership.