Newsletter - International

In July, the Southern Forest Products Association (SFPA) and APA – The Engineered Wood Association, partnered to conduct a virtual technical seminar for lumber traders and construction professionals in Guatemala. Guatemala shows a lot of promise for the U.S. softwood industry, as the country lacks sawmilling technology and is heavily reliant on imported wood products. […]

SFPA and American Softwoods have collaborated with the Spanish Wood Trade and Industry Association (AEIM) to produce a data sheet on Southern Yellow Pine in Spanish. The document includes a variety of information on Southern Pine lumber including species, treatability, strength, and applications, and will serve as useful reference material for importers and industry professionals […]

In late October, SFPA Executive Director Eric Gee participated in a two-day Building Experts Committee (BEC) Japan Technical Committee (JTC) Working Group meeting, hosted by the United States and coordinated by the US Embassy Office of Agricultural Affairs. October’s meeting was of particular significance as there has recently been an increase in interest in SYP, […]

In late March, American Softwoods (AmSo) representatives attended Interzum Guangzhou to promote U.S. softwood products. Because all travelers who enter China are screened upon arrival and subject to a minimum 14-day quarantine, only American Softwoods China Office and Super Lumber Shanghai Office attended this show. Although traffic was slower than previous years due to restrictions […]

Save the date and join the American Softwoods Latin America’s virtual event March 2-4 for three days of talks with international experts, including SFPA Executive Director Eric Gee. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet distributors and get to know the new trends in wood construction. Each day’s sessions run from 10:00 – 2:00 (CTS) Mexico […]

American Softwoods was represented in-person at the Taipei Building Show in mid-December 2020. Taiwan has been successful in containing the COVID-19 virus, allowing business operations and trade shows to continue. Although U.S.-based representatives were unable to attend due to international travel restrictions, local contractors were hired to staff the booth and survey visitors. The show […]

SFPA wrapped up this year’s schedule of webinars with Antigua and Curaçao in late October. Like elsewhere in the Caribbean, the U.S. has a dominant share of these markets but faces competition from alternative building materials such as concrete and steel. As seen throughout the Caribbean, the driving force behind this competition stems from a […]

In early October, American Softwoods representative, Charles Trevor, attended the International Softwood Conference (ISC) which was held online due to COVID-19. The International Softwoods Conference exists so that producers and users of wood and wood products can engage in dialogue on markets and resolve any bilateral issues. There were fewer presentations in this year’s conference […]

For the first time in over a decade, the U.S. has reached out to softwood markets in the British Virgin Islands and Dominica with a virtual educational seminar presented by SFPA in mid-September. The event is SFPA’s fourth webinar and follows successful webinars presented in Costa Rica, and Jamaica and the Dominican Republic earlier this […]

Dr. Bob Smith from the Department of Sustainable Biomaterials at Virginia Tech recently co-authored a book titled International Marketing Practices for Small to Medium Sized Forest Products Firms. with Dr. Omar Espinoza and Ms. Anna Pitti from the University of Minnesota. The book was written to assist forest products companies entering international markets or to […]