Record-high interest in Swedish wood products in China
Exports of sawn wood products from Sweden to China have increased dramatically in recent years. During the China Global Wood Trade Conference (GWT) in Wuhan 13-14 September, Swedish sawmills and the trade organisation Swedish Wood were able to note that interest in Swedish wood products are at a record level and that the promotional activities conducted in China had generated results.
During 2013 Sweden exported 400 000 m3 to China, three times more than in the preceding year. Two years later, in 2015, exports had exceeded 500 000 m3. This year exports from Sweden to China are expected to set a new record at around 800 000 m3.
China represents an important market for the Swedish sawmills industry and Swedish Wood, in conjunction with the Swedish sawmills, carried out a number of marketing initiatives which focused on the high quality of Swedish wood and the sustainability of Swedish forestry.
”The objective behind our participation in GWT in Wuhan was to focus on the excellent quality of Swedish wood and the many possibilities it represents as well as to establish new contact opportunities between representatives from the Swedish sawmills and potential Chinese customers,” said Charlotte Dedye Apelgren, Director Interior and Design at Swedish Wood.
In 2015 China’s Housing Minister and head of the Chinese Ministry of Housing MOHURD (Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development), Chen Zhenggao, signed a directive calling for increased use of wood in future construction. A positive decision for exports of Swedish sawn and value added wood products to China.
”The directive represents a huge breakthrough for wood construction in the world’s biggest construction market. China is faced with major challenges in the environmental sector and, by choosing a renewable building material such as wood, it reduces its impact on climate,” said Susanne Rudenstam, Director Construction at Swedish Wood.
GWT conference was organised by China Timber and Wood Products Distribution Association (CTWPDA) and Swedish Wood is one of the cooperation partners. The year’s conference was the sixth in succession and was held in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province. Wuhan has as population exceeding nine million and is an important trading hub between central and western China.
For more information:
Charlotte Dedye Apelgren, Director of Interior and Design, Swedish Wood
Phone: +46 8 762 79 73
charlotte.apelgren@swedishwood.com
Susanne Rudenstam, Director Construction, Swedish Wood
Susanne.Rudenstam@trabyggnadskansliet.se
Phone: +46 8 762 72 73
Press:
Camilla Carlsson, Communications Manager, Swedish Wood
camilla.carlsson@swedishwood.com
Phone: +46 8 762 79 65
Swedish Wood spreads knowledge, provides inspiration and encourages development relating to wood, wood products and wood construction. The goal is to increase the use of wood in Sweden and in selected international markets through information and inspiration. Swedish Wood also aims to highlight wood as a competitive, eco-friendly and sustainable material.
Swedish Wood is a department within The Swedish Forest Industries Federation (the organization for Swedish pulp, paper and woodworking industries, www.skogsindustrierna.org). Swedish Wood is supported by the Swedish sawmill and glulam industries.
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