Demand for American hardwoods in the MENA region is set to remain strong in 2012, according to the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC).

Roderick Wiles, AHEC Director for Africa, Middle East, India and Oceania, was in the UAE recently on a trade mission. The country has emerged as an important market for his members; the MENA region saw total imports of American hardwood of $41.26 million in the first nine months of last year, and the UAE was responsible for more than $8.3 million of that.

Significant increases came from shipments of white oak and tulipwood to MENA, but red oak still accounted for just over 44 percent of all exports of American hardwood to the region – nearly 26,000 sq m of it in the period.

Wiles visited various sawmills, wood processing factories and importers across the UAE – including Phoenix and Decovision in Abu Dhabi, Timber Market, Mohiudeen Wood and Al Nibras in Sharjah and Ajman, and Farlin Wood, Dubai National Saw Mills, Madar Emirates and Danube in Dubai.

“The visits have revealed a high level of awareness and understanding about various species and their applications,” said Wiles.

“The uncertainty experienced in markets such as Egypt and in some other parts of the region in early 2011 dissipated towards the end of the year, and we are positive that the trend will continue in the same direction.

“We are confident that 2012 will be a positive year. The UAE has already registered impressive growth in import figures in 2011 and we expect Egypt and Saudi Arabia to follow this lead in 2012.”

“Roderick Wiles, AHEC Director for Africa, Middle East, India and Oceania”