Wood Flooring Asia

January 2016

 

In March, the NWFA will host another member pavilion at DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR in Shanghai. The event represents a significant opportunity for those interested in domestic wood flooring products from the United States to see and buy directly from U.S. manufacturers exhibiting at the event.

The demand for U.S. wood flooring products in Asia has grown considerably during the past few years. The reasons for this trend vary, but many industry experts believe that the high quality of U.S. wood flooring products is one of the main drivers, as well as a general desire for American-made goods in Asia.

Industry statistics seems to reinforce this belief. The 2016 U.S. FLOOReport by Market Insights indicates that more than 50% of the world’s wood flooring consumption is in the Far East and Middle East, with 30% in Europe and only 14% in North America. As Asian markets continue to grow, these figures could change even more dramatically.

To introduce NWFA’s U.S. manufacturer products to this growing market, the NWFA partners with the American Hardwood Export Council(AHEC) to promote U.S. hardwood species abroad. Each year at DOMOTEX, NWFA members display their products in one centrally located area on the show floor in an effort to showcase and provide the U.S. manufactured products DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR attendees seek. It is one of the easiest and most economical ways to see and purchase products from the United States for the growing wood flooring market in Asia. In addition, because the NWFA has participated in the event for many years now, it is able to help DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR attendees set up meetings with important contacts in the United States that can help their businesses grow.

NWFA President & CEO, Michael Martin will be attending the show, along with NWFA Chairman of the Board, Jeff Fairbanks, who is the President of Palo Duro Hardwood headquartered in  Denver, Colorado. NWFA U.S. manufacturer members who will be exhibiting in the NWFA Wood Flooring Pavilion include American Lumber Company headquartered in  Hamburg, New York, Graf Brothers Flooring & Lumber headquartered in  South Shore, Kentucky, Shamrock Plank Flooring headquartered in  Memphis, Tennessee, PJ Lumber Company headquartered in  Prichard, Alabama, Robbins Sports Surfaces headquartered in  Bellingham, Washington, Fidbox & HMBox headquartered in  Milwaukee, Wisconsin, National Wood Flooring Association headquartered in  St. Louis, Missouri, and the American Hardwood Export Council headquartered in  Reston, Virginia.

If there is any doubt that U.S. products are in demand, consider this: from 2009 to 2015, exports of U.S. hardwood lumber to China have grown nearly 250%, and the trend is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. Visiting with these U.S. exhibitors in the NWFA Wood Flooring Pavilion during DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR could be the next big step in your company’s growth.