Last year was a record year for US hardwood exports to India with the value of hardwood lumber and veneer exports totalling US$6.448 million, according to the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), the leading international trade association for the American hardwood industry. Source: Timberbiz
The statistics were compiled from the latest data released by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
A closer look at the numbers for 2019 reveal that total hardwood lumber shipped from the United States to India increased by 72% in value to US$2.356 million (up from US$1.369 million in 2018) and by 140% in volume to 4082 cubic meters (up from 1698 cubic meters in 2018).
At the same time, direct exports of American hardwood veneers to the market increased by 4% to reach US$4.092 million.
The top six American hardwood species exported last year were hickory (US$727,000 and 1,229m3), red oak (US$466,000 and 920m3), walnut (US$329,000 and 282m3), white oak (US$262,000 and 358m3), ash (US$242,000 and 356m3) and maple (US$140,000 and 240m3).
Significant increases were seen in the value and volume of exports of all species – hickory, red oak, walnut, white oak, ash and maple.
A sector with tremendous potential is the Indian wooden handicrafts and furniture manufacturing industry. Increasing certification requirements, and both the restricted and deteriorating quality of supply of domestic species is driving Indian manufacturers to look at viable alternative hardwood species not only for the domestic furniture and interiors market, but also for re-exports of value-added products.
Given that Indian exporters of wooden handicrafts and other wood products are facing stricter norms in the European Union, the United States and Australia, the US hardwood industry is well placed to service this demand as American hardwoods are both legal and sustainable, and do not need to be certified in order to enter in to these markets.
