Softwood Export Council
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Expanding Export Markets for U.S. Softwood Products

Helping industry organizations establish and grow sales around the world 

SEC Now on YouTube

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SEC is reaching international buyers and end users through its new YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaA_XXfjf4PfZvW--6w8rrg.  The channel features SEC and member videos including lumber grading tutorials and other educational and promotional videos. 
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Booth Designs in China Generate Strong AmSo Brand Identity

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AmSo's Sylvawood Booth
PictureVisitors discuss materials in AmSo's warm booth space
Softwood Export Council exhibits in trade shows around the world, but our booth designs in China are most successful due to their warmth, effective display of softwoods in interiors, and unique, eye-catching elements. The man behind the design is Xu Fang, Director of American Softwoods' China office. His booth designs at Interzum (Guangzhou) and Sylvawood (Shanghai) this year have set a strong tone for American Softwoods, highlighting the look and feel of softwood panelling and mimicking outdoor as well as indoor structures. 

"There are three aspects that I consider in my design in order to make a booth stand out at the show," explains Xu, "How do people feel when they see the booth from a distance? The booth needs to stand out among its neighbors. How do people feel when they are in the booth? The space must accommodate people moving around, talking, reading, and business meetings. Do visitors have a chance to experience our products? People should have a chance to touch the material and feel warmth."

Xu expresses that warmth is among the key elements he incorporates to maintain a consistent American Softwoods brand identity; he also strives for quality, simplicity, and affordability, all of which are what local users are looking for, but unable to easily obtain in the Chinese wood industry. Creating a relaxing, welcoming booth environment allows these qualities to shine, standing alone alongside the other exhibitors at a trade show.

PictureXu troubleshoots details with construction crew on site before Interzum
The process of creating a booth begins with conceptual design: Xu considers first the impression he knows the trade show's audience will respond to, balancing this with the availability of construction materials, required craftsmanship, and cost. After comparing construction vendors and receiving SEC approval of the designs and quotes, Xu reaches out to local importers dealing in U.S. softwoods. All of the lumber used in booth construction is sourced through donation or at a low price covering basic cost. 

"Fortunately, most of the industry people I talk to are quite supportive," Xu says, "The bottom line is to consider the reuse of booth material in the future, and easy handling during assembly and disassembly." Installation takes place one or two days prior to the opening event, and Xu supervises the entire process, working with the construction crew to problem-solve and adapt the design as questions arise. 

While American Softwoods must target the existing market in each country, the key elements Xu uses in China's booths (warmth, quality, simplicity, and affordability) are not specific to the Chinese market and allow SEC to expand upon them in other countries. ​

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Completed Interzum booth
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The booth makes use of trade show walk way with welcoming design
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Visitors engage easily at the completed Interzum booth
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Reverse Trade Mission: China visits the West Coast

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As China's economy continues to struggle, it becomes increasingly important to create ties with wood industry representatives in the East in order to understand their perspective on the downturn and the opportunities for growth during a strained period of trade. This is precisely why three Chinese delegates traveled to Los Angeles this March to participate in Western Wood Product Association's annual meeting, providing insight into the Chinese economy's impact on wood imports. 

During their trip, the delegates (alongside a Chinese reporter) were able to visit Portland, where they toured four U.S. construction sites, each exemplary models of softwood construction that highlight the structural integrity and interior beauty of U.S. softwoods:
  1. Clay Creative  72,000 square feet and six-stories tall, this wood-framed office building is built with timber beams, glulam, and flooring assemblies and expected to achieve LEED Platinum standards, becoming one of the most energy efficient buildings in Portland's central east side.
  2. One North A two-building project surrounding 14,000 square feet of courtyard space, One North features a cedar-paneled exterior, interior Douglas Fir beams and columns, light-frame dimension lumber walls, and timber decking. 
  3. Albina Yard This office space is the first example of domestically fabricated CLT used in a building-wide structural system in the United States! The CLT panel floors were installed on site in under three hours and allow the structure to span longer distances with fewer beams.
  4. The Hudson (Vancouver, WA) With its heavy timber structure and 15' high ceilings, each room in The Hudson has a unique floor plan that alludes to the open warehouse spaces that predominated the area in the early 1900s. 

After touring Columbia Vista and Sierra Pacific Industries in Aberdeen, WA the next day, our Chinese visitors  have a better understanding about our West coast softwood lumber species, their availability, and production. 
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Updating China's Building Codes

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Chinese regulations for wooden structures are dictated by the GB50005, which lists the recognized wood products permitted for construction. Currently, the Chinese Timber Code Committee staff is working on an updated version of this code after ten years since the last edition, incorporating grades and species from the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Kevin Cheung has made a submission to the Committee to incorporate the reliability-compliant design values for North American NGR dimension lumber, MSR lumber, and Structural Timbers. By including these values in Chinese standards, we create opportunities for increasing the use of North American lumber products in China--a country that is already the largest softwood trading partner of the U.S. (not including Canada), with a housing start exceeding 10 million a year and a new commitment to increasing wood construction in official buildings.
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