NewsNOTE – February 8

Posted

IndiaWood Show Preview

One of the largest delegations representing U.S. wood products travels this week to IndiaWood, to be held February 10-14 in Bangalore. Every two years since 2002, this event showcases the nation’s burgeoning woodworking and wood products industry. India’s appetite for wood raw material continues to grow as its furniture industry booms.  About 20 agents on behalf of SFPA and the Softwood Export Council are joining forces to promote lumber products under the American Softwoods banner.

Richard Kleiner, SFPA’s director of international market development, will be joined by Frank Stewart, manager of technical support for the Western Wood Products Association, in making softwood lumber presentations to more than 200 importers and wood users already registered for the seminar. “Product requests from India through SouthernPineGlobal.com have become more frequent in the past year,” said Kleiner.  “The timing is right for promotion and education,” he adds.

SFPA member representatives included in this delegation include Ken Proctor, West Fraser; Deshal Merchant, representing West Fraser; Dave Sundher and Chris Boniface, L.S. Sundher Ltd., representing Weyerhaeuser; Len Barker, Elof Hansson; Edward Cleesas, Klumb Lumber; Cal Larson, FTI America; Norikazu Yoshikawa, Tumac Lumber; Joe Belknap; Pacific Lumber and Shipping; and David Stallcop; Vanport International.

For more information about SFPA’s international programs, contact Richard Kleiner at 504/443-4464, ext. 211, or e-mail rkleiner@sfpa.org.

Welcome New Member

SFPA welcomes Canadian Wood Products (CWP) of Montreal, Canada, as a new Associate Member.  CWP traders connect with forest products importers around the world and its logistics and sales teams have developed a solid expertise in the export market. CWP now delivers across the globe and is looking forward to helping Southern Pine producers expand their reach overseas.  In October 2011, CWP president Philippe Boisclair presented a Canadian market update to the International Softwood Conference in Copenhagen; click here to review his presentation.

Mike Greetham, the company’s Export Manager, will represent Canadian Wood Products with SFPA. Contact him at 514/841-2029, or send e-mail to mike@canadianwood.ca.  To learn more about Canadian Wood Products, visit www.canadianwood.ca.