Newsletter

We are pleased to welcome the South Carolina Forestry Commission! The Commission joined SFPA as an Associate Member on April 1, 2020. Established by law in 1927, the Commission has around 350 employees, all dedicated to protecting, promoting, enhancing, and nurturing South Carolina’s forest resources. The Commission operates five state forests, as well as a […]

In late February, Fernanda Vale, Director of the American Softwoods Mexico Office, attended the IMEXFOR meeting in Guadalajara, Mexico. To increase member participation, IMEXFOR took place at the same time as the Expo Mueble Internacional tradeshow winter edition, which was also located Guadalajara. Topics covered during the meeting included the effects of COVID-19 on the […]

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has declared the wood products industry a critical infrastructure industry during the COVID-19 outbreak. Functioning infrastructure is especially important during the response to the COVID-19 emergency not only for public health and safety but for community well-being as well. Guidelines issued March 19 by the Department of Homeland Security’s […]

Wood pellets have been listed in the latest Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) Denmark exporter guide report as one of the best high-value product prospects for exports to the country. Although Denmark is a small market compared to the rest of the European Union, it is the EU’s second-largest importer of […]

Beijing Forestry University and China Academy of Science have released a paper addressing the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the Chinese timber industry. Complete with analysis and detailed numbers, the paper outlines the impacts of the outbreak and discusses policy recommendations moving forward. Click here to download the full paper. Please note: this version […]

The 2020 SLMA and SFPA Spring Meeting (March 25-27) in New Orleans has been canceled.  The decision did not come quickly or easily, as our tendencies are to continue business as usual.  However, after careful deliberation, we have decided to err on the side of caution due to the spread of the Coronavirus. SFPA and […]

American Softwoods representatives report success at Indiawood 2020! In late February/ early March, American Softwoods representatives attended Indiawood in Bangalore, India to acquire more knowledge of the Indian market for softwood lumber and establish relationships with leading Indian lumber importers. The five-day show is a long-haul for exhibitors but proved productive. 162 written inquiries were […]

On February 18, China’s Tariff Committee of the State Council announced that it will open a process for companies to apply for retaliatory tariff exemptions. To secure an exemption, companies registered to conduct business in China must file an application and specify the amount of product they plan to import from the U.S. under a […]

In December, American Softwoods carried out a trio of educational seminars in Peru (Trujillo, Lima, and Cusco). Lon Sibert participated in the trip and represented Southern Pine. American Softwoods partnered with local schools or universities in each location to educate importers, distributors and design professionals regarding Southern Yellow Pine lumber, structural panels, and engineered wood […]

Congratulations to Fritz Mason on being named the Timber Processing 2020 Person of the Year by Timber Processing Magazine.  Mason is the President and General Manager of Georgia Pacific. Deeply analytic and passionate, Mason was selected based on the award’s criteria: leadership within the individual’s own company, and leadership within the industry at large. Mason […]