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Indiana Hardwood Delegation Travels to Vietnam

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) continued to expand our state’s position in the global hardwood market with a trip to Vietnam promoting Indiana’s premium forest products. An Indiana hardwoods delegation attended the First Annual Vietnam International Furniture & Accessories (VIFA) Fair. The four-day event was held March 14-18, 2008, at the Phu Tho Indoor Sport Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City.

Vietnam is one of two major wooden product exporters in Southeast Asia. Wood products are Vietnam’s fifth largest exported goods and are shipped to more than 20 countries. As Vietnam’s exports grow, their need for foreign hardwoods also increases, representing tremendous opportunity for Indiana hardwoods.

In 2000, Vietnamese wood products exports totaled $200 million (U.S. dollars) and by the end of 2007 increased to $2.5 billion. Also in 2007, Vietnam was a leading importer of hardwood grade lumber produced in the United States. This country continues to seek more sustainable hardwoods from our country, which again presents opportunity for Indiana.

The VIFA Fair provided a great format to market Indiana’s hardwoods. More than 150 domestic and international companies participated in the VIFA Fair showcasing wooden furniture and accessories. According to the fair’s organizer, the Handicraft and Wood Industry Association, 70 percent of the show’s participants were furniture producers, 20 percent handicraft producers and 10 percent wood industry service companies. For many companies this was their first showing at furniture fair.   

More than 25 qualified contacts were made with several furniture manufacturers looking to place orders in the coming 30-60 days dependent on current pricing for lumber.

While at the VIFA Fair, the Indiana delegation met with representatives from the American Hardwood Export Council, including John Chan, Regional Director of Southeast Asia and Greater China; Sharon Shek, Program and Compliance Officer; and An Di H Nguyen, Program Manager. They provided knowledgeable information on the inner workings of the show and were helpful in making the VIFA Fair a successful business enterprise for the delegation.

While in Vietnam, the Indiana delegation toured Stickley Furniture’s manufacturing plant. This plant produces an antiquities furniture line and mission chairs.  The parent company is Stickley Inc. located in Manlius, N.Y., and is a high end manufacturer of mission and traditional furniture.     

The Indiana delegation included Mark Williamson, Salem Hardwoods, and Mike Seidl, Program Manager for Hardwoods Economic Development. Seidl holds a joint position between the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and ISDA focused on strengthening and maintaining Indiana’s secondary hardwoods manufacturing sector.