NEWS

In January and February, Vietnam's exports of wood products rocketed to more than $2.4 billion. That's a 51% increase vs. the same period last year. Vietnam ended 2020 with $12.3 billion in wood exports, an increase of nearly 16% vs. 2019.

Resource:

Decorative Hardwoods Association (formerly HPVA) eNews Volume XIV, Issue VI: China's Tale Of Two Countries: Tariffs On Logs From The U.S. Vs. Australia | U.S. Begins Review Of China's Hardwood Plywood & Wood Furniture Producers | A Tale Of Two Markets: U.S. Lumber Imports | The U.S.

China will extend tariff exemptions on U.S. hardwood logs and lumber as well as 64 other U.S. products at least through September 16, 2021. U.S. hardwood logs and lumber were the only agricultural product on this list.

Australia's log exports fell 9.5% in January as the Chinese ban on their log imports continued to impact the industry. The results would have been even lower had it not been for a significant increase in Australia's log shipments to India.

Which countries have no forests? Hint: There are three.

Answer: Greenland, Qatar, and San Marino.

New University of Minnesota research shows a possible path in controlling the emerald ash borer: some fungi that live in borer-infested trees attack the pest - and other insects. The fungi are now being evaluated for their potential for biocontrol.