Executive Director of the Southern Forest Products
Association, Eric Gee.
Five Southern Forest Products Association (SFPA) members attended the first Saudi Wood EXPO in September of 2024. Saudi Arabia imported $1.56 billion in wood products, making the Middle Eastern country a prime target for 10 representatives from American Softwoods (AMSO). And there’s room to grow, as the United States accounts for just less than 1 percent of the imports, with major players including China at $381 million, Thailand at $190 million, Indonesia at $130 million, Finland at $120 million and Sweden at $116 million.
The show, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was the first to be held. Because of the dramatic growth projections in the region, it is one of several shows during the year focused on construction and the wood industry, including Saudi WoodShow, which took place in May 2024.
The AMSO team felt the Saudi Wood Expo was more conducive to business, as the May dates clashed with other key events on the trade show calendar. Given this is a fairly new market, AMSO and SFPA attendees learned there is a lack of awareness of and education on Southern Pine and American softwoods. That’s why they used the opportunity to improve the level of knowledge about American softwood species, grades and sizes among visitors.
Ten representatives from American Softwoods, including five Southern Forest Products Association members, attend the first Saudi Wood EXPO in September of 2024.
Saudi Expo had 140 exhibitors from more than 30 countries with 6,180 attendees representing a range of businesses across the kingdom.
Considering this was the first Saudi Wood Expo, the AMSO team was pleased with the quality and quantity of business inquiries, with plans to return in 2025.
Saudi is an exciting market for anyone working in the construction industry. The wood market value was projected to amount to $1 billion in 2024, with the latest data available, and grow at a compound annual rate of 2.55 percent between 2024 and 2029, according to dmg, the show organizers.
American Softwoods and Southern Forest Products Association representatives used their booth at the first Saudi Wood EXPO to improve the level of knowledge about American softwood species, grades and sizes among visitors.
The Saudi Arabian construction industry, meanwhile, is worth $1.6 trillion. That market is growing at a fast pace, with plans to construct 1.5 million new homes by 2030 and a growing need for doors, windows and furniture manufacturing.
The Saudi market for Southern Pine and treated lumber grew 327 percent between 2003 and 2023, with 5.9 million board feet sent to the Middle East country in 2023. However, it’s only imported 323,000 board feet through August 2024, 100 percent of which is treated Southern Pine lumber.
The Saudi Wood Expo had 140 exhibitors from more than 30 countries with 6,180 attendees representing a range of businesses.
That being said, exports of Southern Pine lumber (treated and untreated) continue to outpace 2023, up 16 percent through August, worldwide. They also were up 27 percent over August 2023 and up 23.9 percent over July, according to August data, the most recent data available, from the USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Services’ Global Agricultural Trade System which was released by the SFPA, of which Eric Gee is Executive Director.
August reversed a two-month slide in Southern Pine exports, marking the third-highest total in 2024.
Softwood imports, meanwhile, were down 4.3 percent in August over 2023 and down 3.8 percent over July.
The Saudi market for Southern Pine and treated lumber grew 327 percent between 2003 and 2023, with 5.9 million board feet sent to the Middle East country in 2023.
When looking at the report by dollar value, Southern Pine exports between January and August 2024 are running 8 percent ahead of the same period in 2023 at $149.7 million, with Mexico leading the way at $42.3 million, followed by the Dominican Republic at $35.9 million and India at $11.9 million. Treated lumber exports, meanwhile, are down 10.6 percent over the year at $11.5 million led by Jamaica with $16.3 million, the Leeward-Windward Islands at $13.8 million and the Dominican Republic at $7.3 million.
For more information, visit www.southernpine.com.
