Total exports of U.S. hardwood lumber and veneer to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region reached a record USD 108.93 million for the year 2014, according to the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), the leading international trade association for the American hardwood industry. The statistics, which have been compiled from the latest data released by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), reveal an overall 20 percent increase over 2013 figures. The announcement was made on the sidelines of the Dubai WoodShow 2015 where AHEC is hosting the largest ever American Hardwood Pavilion, featuring twenty-one U.S. hardwood lumber and veneer exporters.
According to the data released, exports of American hardwood lumber reached a value of USD 79.07 million and a volume of 98,425 cubic meters during 2014. This equates to an increase in value of 23 percent over 2013 and an increase in volume of 8 percent. Direct exports of U.S. hardwood veneers to the MENA region reached a total value of USD 29.86 million last year, rising by 12 percent from 2013. However, it is important to note that American hardwood veneers are also shipped to the region from European countries and China, while veneers are also produced in the region – notably in Turkey – from imported American hardwood logs. U.S. hardwood log exports to the MENA region reached a total volume of 34,957 cubic meters and a value of USD 20.47 million in 2014.
Commenting on the record exports to the region, Roderick Wiles, AHEC Director for Africa, Middle East, South Asia and Oceania, said: “The most significant increases in shipments of U.S. hardwood lumber were seen in the United Arab Emirates (up by 48 percent to 15,723 cubic meters), Egypt (up by 22 percent to 11,614 cubic meters), Jordan (up by 18 percent to 5,949 cubic meters), Lebanon (up by 23 percent to 4,735 cubic meters), Qatar (up by 55 percent to 3,015 cubic meters) and Morocco (up by 31 per cent to 2,329 cubic meters). However, a marginal downturn in volume of only 2 percent was seen in shipments to Turkey, which reached 12,700 cubic meters and a slight downturn was seen in shipments to Saudi Arabia, which reached 10,513 cubic meters.”