US body targets $20 million of hardwood exports to India

To open office in Delhi to push exports in the 'next big market'

The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), a joint venture between the US government and hardwood manufacturing companies in the US, is looking at India as the next big market for exporting hardwood.

In an effort to tap the huge export potential in India, the council is setting up its India office at New Delhi in the next six months.

"We are coming to India for the first time with the intention of promoting hardwood exports. What we understand about India is that the growth here is explosive. We want to make use of the huge and growing construction industry here," said Peter King, vice chairman, AHEC.

King, who is in Bangalore to participate in the Indiawood 2006, an expo on woodworking machinery industry starting here on Thursday, told Business Standard that AHEC is looking at India as its next growth market after China and the EU. The American hardwood industry is valued over $2 billion, 12 per cent of which is exported.

AHEC, which promoted $100,000 worth of hardwood exports to India in 2005, aims to increase the exports to over $20 million in the next five years.

To promote hardwood consumption in India, AHEC is presently organising workshops in Mumbai and Bangalore on American hardwood lumber grading to the National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA) standard.

The first workshop was held in Mumbai on Wednesday and the second is being held in Bangalore on February 17, King said.

Eight companies from the US will display their products at the Indiawood 2006. "Though American hardwood exports to India are relatively limited at the moment, the future opportunities are vast for US hardwood exporters, particularly in the high-end interiors sector and among the highly-skilled Indian manufacturing base," King said.

The American hardwood industry can help Indian wood companies by offering a reliable, consistent supply of high quality products which are already well-established in high-end markets the world over, he added.

Hardwood is sourced from trees like oak, walnut, cherry and poplar in the US. The wood being exported to India will be kiln wood and dried wood which is suitable for making furniture, staircases, flooring and kitchen cabinets.