In June 2022, SEC and U.S. suppliers of U.S softwood lumber attended Carrefour International du Bois, the largest wood and wood products trade show in Europe to field inquiries and answer questions about U.S. softwood species.
The bi-annual show held in Nantes, France, is a key event for international buyers of softwood lumber and related wood products, and it attracts buyers from across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. U.S. softwood lumber is in high demand throughout Europe, with sales totaling $35.4 million in 2021 (up from $23.3 million in 2020).
At the show, the American Softwoods delegation fielded inquiries from the introduced over14,000 trade show attendees and discussed with them the benefits of U.S. species. The group collected 55 new contacts interested in finding suppliers or receiving more information about U.S. products. Many book visitors were seeking a replacement for Russian larch and in these cases SEC representatives recommended Douglas fir or Hemlock. Immediately following the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, many forest certification programs such as FSC and PEFC labeled timber from Russia and Belarus as conflict timber, which stripped the supplier of certification. Other leading first world countries have also banned the import of logs and lumber from these suppliers. SEC will continue to monitor the impact of the war on demand for U.S. softwood lumber.
The bi-annual show held in Nantes, France, is a key event for international buyers of softwood lumber and related wood products, and it attracts buyers from across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. U.S. softwood lumber is in high demand throughout Europe, with sales totaling $35.4 million in 2021 (up from $23.3 million in 2020).
At the show, the American Softwoods delegation fielded inquiries from the introduced over14,000 trade show attendees and discussed with them the benefits of U.S. species. The group collected 55 new contacts interested in finding suppliers or receiving more information about U.S. products. Many book visitors were seeking a replacement for Russian larch and in these cases SEC representatives recommended Douglas fir or Hemlock. Immediately following the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, many forest certification programs such as FSC and PEFC labeled timber from Russia and Belarus as conflict timber, which stripped the supplier of certification. Other leading first world countries have also banned the import of logs and lumber from these suppliers. SEC will continue to monitor the impact of the war on demand for U.S. softwood lumber.
