JL Gardner Hardwoods, with operations in Axton, was among the five Virginia companies to exhibit at VietnamWood, in the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center in Ho Chi Minh City.
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) Office of International Marketing supported the businesses at the show by helping them meet and network with potential buyers of lumber, logs and other forest products.
Vietnam is the fifth largest export destination for U.S. forest products. In 2018, U.S. forestry product exports to Vietnam increased by nearly 18 percent. Vietnam was Virginia’s third largest market for forest products in 2018, with shipments totaling more than $46 million.
Other Virginia companies to exhibit were:
• Blue Ridge Lumber Co., LLC in Fisherville
• BOSS Lumber in Galax
• Meherrin River Forest Products in Alberta
• The Turman Group in Arrington
VDACS staff and its Southeast Asia trade office also attended the show to promote Virginia grown and processed wood to furniture manufacturers and other types of buyers from the region.
“Virginia forest products are already well-positioned in Vietnam. Some of our exporters have been selling to customers in the market for years. In fact, Virginia is the second largest supplier of forest products to Vietnam among U.S. states,” said VDACS Director of Marketing Stephanie Agee. “Due to disruption in global forest product markets over the last year, our competitors are looking to Vietnam for new buyers to help them make up export sales lost in other markets. It’s important that we show our commitment and appreciation to our existing Vietnamese customers and that we continue to work to maintain our market share in the region.”
VietnamWood is Southeast Asia’s leading woodworking machinery and manufacturing show. More than 380 companies and 12,000 visitors attended the four-day event.
