The AFA will be watching this closely over the coming months to as the Australian timber supply chain is preparing for life after native hardwoods, with manufacturers now importing boatloads of 40-foot containers of American hardwoods to keep up with record demand.
In January, Wood Central reported that AFA Member, Australian Sustainable Hardwoods, the country’s largest hardwood manufacturer, is now importing thirty or more American oak containers (marketed as glacial oak) every month.
Now, Wood Central can reveal that the hardwood lumber exports from the United States to Australia rose 22% for the year to February, fueled by American White Oak and its lesser-known cousin, American Red Oak.
Yesterday, Wood Central spoke to the American Hardwood Export Council – the peak body for US hardwoods responsible for a global campaign to export lumber into 50 international markets – who confirmed that in line with data just released by the US Department of Agriculture, Australia imported nearly 9,000 cubic metres of Red Oak last year alone.
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Article Coutesy of WoodCentral