UNECE/FAO 2010-2011 Forest Products Annual Market Review is 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 … Continue reading “UNECE/FAO 2010-2011 Forest Products Annual Market Review is 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.

“One of the best, very informative day!”

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 … Continue reading ““One of the best, very informative day!””

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.

Mike Snow, Executive Director of AHEC, speaks about the Globalization of the US Hardwood Industry

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.

Annual Meeting Center scheduled for March 31, 2011 at the Brooks Center

 The annual Meeting of the Center for Forest Products Business has been scheduled from 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M on March 31st at the Thomas M. Brooks Forest Products Center in the Corporate Research Park on the Virginia Tech campus.  This meeting will be held in conjunction with the College’s annual banquet that evening.  The invitation … Continue reading “Annual Meeting Center scheduled for March 31, 2011 at the Brooks Center”

 The annual Meeting of the Center for Forest Products Business has been scheduled from 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M on March 31st at the Thomas M. Brooks Forest Products Center in the Corporate Research Park on the Virginia Tech campus.  This meeting will be held in conjunction with the College’s annual banquet that evening.  The invitation is for the current Center members but if your organization would like to join us at this event please let us know at quesada@vt.edu.

 This is the tentative agenda for the meeting:

 Morning Session

  • 9:00 am. Welcoming, introductions and Center Update. Bob Smith

Research Updates

  • 9:20: am. Energy Consumption in the Wood Products Industry.  Omar Espinoza and Brian Bond
  • 9:40: am. The VT Lean Project. Mathias Schmith/Wang Chao
  • 10:00 am. Coffee Break
  • 10:20 am. Supply Chain Management Characterization of the Pallet Industry. Scarlett Sanchez
  • 10:40 am. Marketing Opportunities for Appalachian Wood Products in Central America.  Scott Lyon

The new vision of the Center

  • 11:00 am. Forest Products Marketing. Bob Smith
  • 11:20 am. The WEI program. Earl Kline
  • 11:40 am. Innovation-based Manufacturing. Henry Quesada
  • 12:00 pm. Lunch (if you have special needs, please let us know)

Afternoon Session

  • 1:00 pm. The Future of the Center (SWOT Analysis)
  • 2:00 pm. Sum up
  • 2:30 pm. Adjourn
  • 6:00 pm.  College of Natural Resources and Environment Spring Banquet

Center for Innovation-based Manufacturing launched its first workshop

BlACKSBURG, VA. December 6, 2010. On November 11, the Center for Innovation-based Manufacturing (CIbM) presented its first workshop on Innovation-based Manufacturing. The workshop was organized by Dr. Henry Quesada, assistant professor of business and manufacturing processes in the Department of Wood Science and Forest Products and member of the CIbM. The CIbm was created with the goal … Continue reading “Center for Innovation-based Manufacturing launched its first workshop”

BlACKSBURG, VADecember 6, 2010. On November 11, the Center for Innovation-based Manufacturing (CIbM) presented its first workshop on Innovation-based Manufacturing. The workshop was organized by Dr. Henry Quesada, assistant professor of business and manufacturing processes in the Department of Wood Science and Forest Products and member of the CIbM. The CIbm was created with the goal to help local industries to solve current manufacturing issues and to help the university commercialize new technologies that steam out research projects. The CIbM is supported by the Institute for Critical Technology & Applied Science (ICTAS).

Participants in the first Innovation-based Manufacturing workshop ask questions

Speakers at the workshop included Dr. Roop Mahajan, Director of ICTAS, Director of the Institute for Critical Technology & Applied Science (ICTAS), Dr. Darrene Hackler, VP at the International Economic Development Council, Dr. Allister James, Senior Expert Engineer from Siemens Energy, Dr. Julia Lane from the National Science Foundation, and Mr. Jose Vicente-Gomila from the Polytechnic Institute of Valencia in Spain and co-founder of TRIZ XXI.

The morning session of the workshop focused on discussing the basics behind innovation-based manufacturing, the relationship of innovation with economic development, innovation and science of innovation policy, and examples of innovation-based manufacturing in action. The afternoon session was focused on innovation tools such as TRIZ, innovation monitoring, and innovation intelligence. The workshop was attended by 45 participants and it was held at the Inn at Virginia Tech.

According to current research from Dr. Quesada’s group, the wood products industry sector needs to focus more on innovative ways to improve their manufacturing process and innovation-based manufacturing opens enormous potential for companies in this industry sector to increase their competitiveness.