AN ANALYSIS OF APPALACHIAN HARDWOOD PRODUCTS IN THE CHINESE MARKET

To improve information on log and lumber trade between the Appalachian region of the United States and China, 50 Chinese firms identified as potential and current hardwood products buyers were surveyed using a stratified random sampling method from January to May 2008. A series of questions were posed on the importance of certain attributes of the US products and how to make the trading process more efficient. Sampled information included business activities, location(s), annual sales, product distribution of firms importing hardwood products, customer satisfaction, potential barriers to trade, principal Sources of supply, product types, grades, and species of hardwood products imported from the United States. Results indicated that the Appalachian region of the United States is an important hardwood source and will continue to play an important role in the Chinese market. Red and white oaks were the most frequently imported species, followed by hard (sugar) maple, black cherry, soft maple, and ash. The Appalachian hardwood logs entered the markets largely in east and north central China, whereas the hardwood lumber importers were mainly distributed in east, south, and north central China. Some ongoing issues such as the impact of Russia's log tariff, the Lacey Act, and others on China's wood supply were also raised. The results should be helpful for Appalachian hardwood producers to further explore opportunities to promote their products in the Chinese markets.