PERU – Seeking to establish links with Peruvian suppliers of certified wood products, eight major European companies took part of a trade mission that conducted plant tours of Lima and various production regions.

“These buyers are looking to establish trade links with Peruvian entrepreneurs who are certified in the management of forests and to ensure the traceability of the chain of custody to ensure good environmental practices and the legal origin of the wood and processed products for indoor and outside use”, said the Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur), Magali Silva in a press statement.

Among the buyers include were leading companies like Kloepferholz (with 21 outlets in Germany), Hornbach (serving the DIY megastores segment), and IBI International, one of Europe’s leading suppliers of building materials. Buyers conducted plant tours of Iquitos, Pucallpa, Puerto Maldonado and Lima.

This trade promotion is part of MINCETUR’s strategy of market diversification led by Promperú and OCEX, Peru’s trade office in Hamburg and with the German Cooperation Agency (GTZ), through its program  ‘ProAmbiente’.

In July 2015, Peruvian wood exports reached US $ 86 million. A 10% growth in shipments of certified wood products is expected in the medium term. More than 40% of total exports in the sector are supplied by companies with forest certification or that are in the process of obtaining certification.