For the first time in over a decade, the U.S. has reached out to softwood markets in the British Virgin Islands and Dominica with a virtual educational seminar presented by SFPA in mid-September. The event is SFPA?s fourth webinar and follows successful webinars presented in Costa Rica, and Jamaica and the Dominican Republic earlier this year.
While the U.S. had a dominant share of the market in the Leeward Islands – which encompasses the British Virgin Island and Dominica – there is competition from alternative building materials such as concrete and steel. Continuous efforts are needed in the area to ensure correct structural application of wood products as there remains some misunderstanding of wood-frame construction practices and selecting the proper grades and sizes for the application. To that end, September’s webinar focused on proper selection and use of U.S. softwood lumber and was largely attended by lumber traders and construction professionals.
Planning is underway for similar sessions in Antigua and Curaçao in late October.
Want to know more about this event?
The full report, survey responses, and a list of contacts are available to SFPA Members in Members Only.
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Learn more about becoming a member of the Southern Forest Products Association here.