AMERICAN hardwood lumber and veneer worth $45.05 million were exported to the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region including Pakistan during the first six months of this year, according to the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), the leading international trade association for the American hardwood industry. This marks a four per cent increase over the same period in 2012.

Of this total, exports of American hardwood lumber reached a value of $31.29 million and a volume of 45,676 cu m, marking an increase of 0.5 per cent and three per cent respectively over the January to June period of 2012. Direct shipments of US hardwood veneers to the Mena region during the period reached a total value of $13.76 million, rising by 14 per cent from the same period last year. In addition, US hardwood log exports to the region reached a value of $14 million and a volume of 26,653 cu m during the same period.

In terms of species, 29 per cent of the volume of American hardwood lumber shipped to the Mena region during the six-month period was accounted for by red oak (13,367 cu m), remaining unchanged from the same period in 2012. At the same time, shipments of tulipwood to the region picked up significantly from the first half of last year, rising by 38 per cent to 5,565 cu m. Exports of American walnut lumber to the region during the January to June period of this year were much weaker and fell by 40 per cent in volume to 2,177 cu m, as compared to the same period in 2012.

In veneers, exports were dominated by red oak, with significant volumes of walnut, white oak and maple. It is important to note that American hardwood veneers are also shipped to the region from European countries and China, while veneers are also produced in the region – notably in Turkey – from imported American hardwood logs.

“The Mena region as a whole is demonstrating strong demand for American hardwoods. With the value of completed construction projects set to reach $81.6 billion in 2013, which represents a 19 per cent increase over 2012, the outlook for the second half of the year looks positive,” said Roderick Wiles, AHEC director for Africa, Middle East, South Asia and Oceania.

 He continued: “Market reports indicate that a two-paced growth is likely in 2013 with residential, retail and commercial sector construction projects growing at slower rates of 4.4 per cent, four per cent and 13 per cent to $30.7 billion, $2.5 billion and $13.8 billion respectively.

“However, hospitality, education and medical projects will grow at faster rates of 27 per cent, 69 per cent and 79 per cent respectively to $27 billion, $8.8 billion and $5.9 billion, which augurs well for exports of US hardwoods to the region.”

Markets across the region reveal strong demand for American hardwood lumber, with the UAE at $3.98 million, Turkey at $3.59 million, Saudi Arabia $3.42 million, Egypt $4 million, and Pakistan $3.85 million. Shipments of American hardwood lumber to Lebanon at $1.57 million, Jordan $2.17 million and Qatar $840,000, held up reasonably well during the first six months of the year. Turkey passed Egypt to become the number one destination for US hardwood veneers, with direct shipments valued at $5.23 million.