Author: quesada

Letter from the Director

I always enjoy sitting down and writing this letter. It reminds me of why I joined higher education after 15 years in the private sector, and why I love coming to work every day. It’s about the friendships we have established over the years and the hope that our work at the Center has positively impacted your businesses. Some of you have graduated from the department and now are leaders in your companies.

Some of you have used our research to make improved products to serve your customers better, and some of you have been supporters to help students meet their financial or educational needs. Whatever the reason, we greatly appreciate this great partnership which is now 20 years old. We are the oldest active industrial center in the college, and have changed over the years to meet your needs and our students’ needs for the 21st Century.

Continue reading “Center for Forest Products Business 2010-2011 Report Available”

The UNECE/FAO Forest Products Annual Market Review, 2010-2011 provides general and statistical information on forest products markets in 2010 and early 2011 in the UN Economic Commission for Europe region (Europe, North America and Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia)

The Review begins with an overview chapter, followed by a description of the economic situation of forest products markets in the region. It then presents the policy implications of market developments in the region .

Market developments in five standard sectors, based on annual country-supplied statistics, are described for wood raw materials, sawn softwood, sawn hardwood, wood-based panels and paper and paperboard.

Regular chapters discuss markets for wood energy, certified forest products, carbon, value-added wood products and tropical timber. There is also a special chapter with a brief review of market developments in China.  In each chapter production, trade and consumption are analysed and relevant development on specific markets and policies are included.

Tables included with the text present summary statistical information. Additional statistical tables are available below.

The above publication is available in PDF format. To read documents in PDF format you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. This software is free-of-charge and is available from the official Adobe  website.

• English (4.7 MB)

June 15. 2011. Blacksburg, VA. The title of this article reflects the opinion of one of the participants of the workshop “International Marketing for Forest Products Industries” held on June 14, 2011 in Charlottesville, Virginia.

According to the attendees, this workshop was an excellent training opportunity for primary and secondary wood products manufacturers to understand the basic principles of international marketing. The first sessions were delivered by Drs. Robert Smith and Henry Quesada from the Center for Forest Products Business (CFPB) at Virginia Tech and covered marketing principles and factors affecting today’s supply chains. The following two presentations were delivered by Mike Snow from the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) and Joel Stopha with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS). These sessions informed the audience on the current export statistics of the hardwood sector and main guidelines and tips to engage in international selling. Also Scott Lyon, a graduate research assistant working for the CFPB, disseminated results of his research on market opportunities for forest products firms in the Central American Market. Participants also learned about the export credit insurance program, a presentation delivered by John Strayhorn.

As Mike Snow, Executive Director of AHEC, indicated that “exports activities are a great opportunity for wood products firms to increase their competitiveness”. Factors that favor the exports of US wood products to other countries are the sustainability of our forest, the high quality of our hardwoods and softwoods, and the increasing purchasing power of the middle class in countries such as India, China and United Arab Emirates (UAE) as mentioned by Joel Stopha from VDACS. Although engaging in exporting activities is not simple, “for many Appalachian wood products the development of customers in international markets has been very rewarding and in some cases the only reason why they are still in business”, according to Dr. Robert Smith, Professor of Marketing and Associated Dean of Engagement of the College of Natural Resources and Environment (CNRE) at Virginia Tech.

Overall the workshop’s attendees ranked the event as useful, practical, and presented at the right level. This event was funded through the Federal State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP) at the US Department of Agriculture. The facilities and infrastructure were provided by Charles Becker from the Virginia Department of Forestry.