HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania agriculture officials hosted Chinese delegates on Friday to discuss hardwood trade opportunities and showcase American lumber.
During a trade show hosted by the Department of Agriculture’s Pennsylvania Hardwoods Development Council, representatives of the Dongguan Furniture Association also met with 15 Pennsylvania companies and toured Catawissa Lumber & Specialty Inc., in Paxinos, Northumberland County.
“Pennsylvania leads the nation in hardwood lumber production, and China is our second-largest market for both lumber and log sales,” said Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff. “Trade shows like the one held today provide an opportunity for us to showcase Pennsylvania’s exceptional forest products and expand our international trade.”
The delegation included 29 major furniture manufacturers from Dongguan City and areas of southern China, as well as leadership members of the association, press corps, and the Chinese Chamber of International Commerce and Guangdong Chamber of Commerce.
Sales in China represent nearly $31 million in Pennsylvania hardwood sales since 2005, and continue to increase each year.
Several Pennsylvania companies are scheduled to participate in a reverse trade mission to Dongguan City in March 2007, when business meetings and site visits will be coordinated between the Pennsylvania participants and hardwood product manufacturers in southern China. Pennsylvania companies will also participate in a large hardwood trade show in Shanghai, the FurniTek/WoodMac China 2007, March 20-23, 2007, prior to the mission to southern China. The 2007 hardwood mission is currently open to Pennsylvania producers.
For more information on Pennsylvania’s hardwoods industry, or about hardwoods trade opportunities, contact the Pennsylvania Hardwoods Development Council at (717)-772-3715, or visit www.agriculture.state.pa.us, and click on ‘Councils and Commissions.’