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Brazilian Furniture Project Extended to Drive Export Growth
BRAZIL - The Brazilian Furniture Industry Association (Abimovel) and ApexBrasil (Brazilian Agency for the Promotion of Exports and Investments) have renewed the Brazilian Furniture Sector Project for another two-year cycle, effective December 20, 2024. This initiative...
Vietnam’s Forest Product Exports Set to Reach Record USD 17.3 Billion in 2024
VIETNAM - In 2024, Vietnam's export turnover of forest products is expected to reach a historic high of USD 17.3 billion, with wood and wood products contributing USD 16.3 billion. The trade surplus from these exports is projected to be USD 14.4 billion. In December...
Koskisen’s Strategic Investment in Plywood Industry
FINLAND - Koskisen has announced a new investment program to enhance plywood production at its plant in Järvelä. The program will run until 2027, with an initial phase of EUR 12 million planned for 2025. “We are focusing our investments on the Panel Industry,...
Egger Reports Stable Performance Amid Uncertainty
AUSTRIA – The Egger Group, one of the largest wooden panel manufacturers in the world, based in St. Johann in Tirol, Austria, closed the first half of its 2024/2025 financial year with consolidated sales of EUR 2.1 billion, reflecting a slight decrease of 0.2%...
Promart Opens its Second Store in Ecuador
ECUADOR - Promart Homecenter, the leading Peruvian home improvement chain, has opened its second store in Ecuador, located in Quito. Inaugurated on December 11, 2024, this new location strengthens the brand’s presence in Ecuador, following its first store opening in...
Sarah Kutulakos Named First FSC Regional Director for North America
USA - The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is pleased to announce Sarah Kutulakos as the first Regional Director for North America, effective January 1, 2025. This appointment marks a key step in FSC's expansion and reinforces its mission to promote responsible forest...
SCM Presents Edgebanding Innovations for Doors
ITALY – SCM Group recently hosted the Flexible Edgebanding for Doors event in Thiene, Italy, on December 6th-7th, bringing together industry professionals to explore the latest advancements in the manufacturing sector. The event showcased SCM’s advanced door...
Imports Make up 7% of U.S. Construction Materials
USA – In 2023, the U.S. residential construction sector imported USD 13 billion in materials, representing 7% of the USD 184 billion spent on materials for new single-family and multifamily housing, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The...
Dieffenbacher Names Michael Rupp as Head of Recycling Division
GERMANY – Michael Rupp has been appointed Head of the Recycling Business Unit at Dieffenbacher, effective December 1, 2024. He will lead the company’s waste wood recycling, waste-to-product solutions, and the development of fuel processing, with a focus on fluidized...
Pfleiderer Reinforces its Commitment to Diversity
GERMANY - As part of the ongoing development of its ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) initiatives, Pfleiderer, one of the main wooden panel manufacturers in Germany, has signed the Diversity Charter, further committing to a respectful and prejudice-free work...
Lithuanian Furniture Maker Invests USD 70 million in New US Plant
LITHUANIA - SBA Home, a Lithuanian furniture manufacturer, will invest over USD 70 million to establish its first North American production facility in Mocksville, North Carolina, creating more than 200 jobs in Davie County. Part of the SBA Grupe UAB conglomerate, the...
Koelnmesse is Revamping its Furniture and Interior Design Events
GERMANY - Koelnmesse, a global leader in trade fair organization, is revamping its furniture and interior design events to better meet market demands. Starting in January 2026, imm cologne will focus annually on the consumer market with a streamlined, targeted...
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Top Ecuadorian companies’ sales and profits fall in 2023
ECUADOR - The main companies in Ecuador´s wood and furniture sector experienced a decline in sales and profits in 2023 compared to the previous year. Total sales among the main companies in this sector amounted to USD 410.2 million, a decrease of 3.4% from USD 424.8...
FSC Appoints Dr. Subhra Bhattacharjee as New Director General
GERMANY - The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) International Board of Directors has appointed Dr. Subhra Bhattacharjee as the new Director General, effective October 1, 2024. With over 20 years of experience in public policy, climate change, and sustainable...
European Commission Proposes One-Year Delay on Deforestation Regulation
BELGIUM - The European Commission announced a proposed one-year delay for a law banning imports linked to deforestation (EUDR), responding to widespread concerns from industries and governments worldwide. While the law is seen as a crucial measure in the fight against...
Strong Growth in Colombian Decor Paper imports
COLOMBIA - Colombia's imports of decor paper for wooden panels have seen a strong increase in the first half of 2024 (6M-2024), totaling USD 11,056,148, a 42.1% rise compared to USD 7,781,687 during the same period in 2023. Brazil remains the largest supplier country,...
Spanish Furniture Sector Sees Stable International Sales in 6M-2024
SPAIN - International sales in the Spanish furniture sector remain nearly unchanged in 6M-2024 from the same period last year, showing a slight increase of 0.9%, totaling EUR 1.54 billion. Meanwhile, Spanish furniture imports have risen by 3.4% during the first half...
European Associations Call for Delay in EUDR Implementation
BELGIUM - On September 25, 2024, 29 European associations, including the European Panel Federation (EPF), the European Confederation of Woodworking Industries (CEI-Bois), and the European Timber Trade Federation, released a joint statement urging a delay in the...
VDMA Lowers 2024 Woodworking Machinery Forecast
GERMANY – VDMA (German Machinery and Equipment Manufacturers Association) Woodworking Machinery has retracted its forecast for 2024, expecting a 15% decline in production, down to EUR 3.6 billion in Germany. This follows a record EUR 4.2 billion in 2023. With 3,600...
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