NEWS

We regret to inform you that Jon Snyder, former president of Arkansas Face Veneer, passed away on July 21. Jon was a respected, long-term member of Decorative Hardwoods Association, serving as board chairman as well as in a number of other roles, including serving on the board of our Hardwood Forestry Fund. His family will hold a private memorial service at a later date.

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The National Fire Protection Standard, NFPA 652, contains new requirements that take effect next month. The rule affects wood-processing firms and is designed to reduce the risk of injury or death from a combustible dust explosion.

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Consistent consumer demand for furniture has been an upside of the pandemic for some countries in Asia. The downside is longer lead times: many importers say that they won't be able to ship July orders until the fourth quarter. This is impacting China, Vietnam, Malaysia, India, and Indonesia.

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Vietnam pocketed more than $5 billion from exporting timber and wood products in the first six months of 2020, an increase of nearly 30% vs. one year ago. Vietnam's exports of wood products to the U.S. and Canada grew by 43.1% and 19.5%, respectively.

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Times of News: Wood exports recover during first half of 2020

A federal rule mandates that private forest operators in Canada offer the right of first refusal to domestic sawmills before the operators can receive export permits. Japan and Canada are now at odds over the rule, as the Canadian government committed to easing restrictions on raw logs in exchange for the elimination of Japanese tariffs on Canadian lumber and plywood.

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