US lumber exports grew by 11% in the Middle East and North Africa in 2022

Posted on February 17, 2023   |  

The Mena region is a very important export market for American red oak lumber, which is the prevailing species in the US hardwood forest and the most commercially available. 

Last year, shipments of red oak lumber to the region grew by 45% to 46,248 m³ in total.

The shipments of American hardwood lumber (sawn timber) to the Mena region grew by 9% to $81.98 million in value and in volume, shipments grew by 13% to 103,246 m³ last year compared to 2021. 

Exports also saw an increase to the UAE in volume exports grew by 13% to 14,388 m³, in Turkey, exports grew by 49% to 24,165 m³ in volume, Morocco, exports grew by 16% to 8,315 m³, and in Pakistan, exports grew by 6% to 15,582 m³.

The direct exports of American hardwood veneers to the region grew by 20% to $25.2 million in 2021 in value, with the majority shipped to the UAE, Turkey, and Israel.