US knocks on Mideast doors.

(From Gulf Construction)

With the Middle East and Indian markets entering a strong phase of growth, the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) is looking forward to improve on its sales performance for the previous year

"Hardwood consumption is rapidly growing in the markets of the Middle East and India. In order to allow for importers, end-users and consumers in these regions to have the widest possible choice of hardwoods available to them, AHEC needs to make sure that American hardwoods are well-represented and that the messages of a wide choice of species and looks and their long-term sustainability are spread effectively," a spokesman says. US hardwood lumber, veneer and flooring exports to the Middle East reached a value of $47.2 million in 2004 - a 31 per cent increase on the previous year. Saudi Arabia, the largest market in the region, saw a substantial increase in its imports of hardwood lumber and flooring from the US, with imports reaching 29,000 cu m and accounting for over half of all direct shipments of American hardwood lumber to the region. While US hardwood exports to the Middle East increased substantially during 2004, the increase in exports to India was more modest. Direct hardwood ...