UAE imported about 15,000 cubic meters of lumber valued at $12 million in 2014, marking its position as an important market for wood, said Roderick Wiles, director of American Hardwood Export Council.

He was speaking after the successful conclusion of the Dubai International Wood & Wood Machinery Show, held in Dubai, UAE.

Top German, Italian, Spanish and Chinese machinery suppliers participated in the three-day show, said a statement.

Key exhibitors at the Dubai Woodshow 2015 said they received many visitors interested in their latest manufacturing machinerie, it added.

Josine Heijmans, exhibition director of the Dubai WoodShow, said: “Dubai WoodShow reinforced its position as the regional landmark event for wood trade and investment.

“The show provided a strategic platform for showcasing latest wood industry products and suppliers, while at the same time giving exhibitors the opportunity to explore new markets and strengthen relations with new and existing clients,” she said.

Wiles added: “We have seen 80 per cent growth in the last five years in wood exported to GCC. UAE forms a third biggest trading and processing hub for wood exported here. There are 300 wood processing factories in UAE sending processed wood to Middle East and Africa, as well as London and New York. Thus, UAE forms a very important market, and we see tremendous growth potential in the field of wood trading.”

Mohammad Khaldoon Al-Dallal, executive manager at Cefla Middle East FZE, said: “Cefla is a world leader in the finishing of wood established 82 years ago, with presence in the Middle East for more than 25 years.

“Cefla has its head office is in Jebel Ali. We have been participating in Dubai WoodShow since the launch of the show 10 years ago. Through this exhibition we meet new customers as well as already existing customers, as the show offers us an ideal platform to offer value added services and support to our existing and potential clients,” he added.

Khalil Al Absi, sales area manager at Biesse Middle East, said: “Our company is specialised in selling machines that produce high end products, and we have introduced new machines to the Middle East. We have been in UAE since 2009. Our products are Italian. We cooperate with Cefla Middle East FZE on projects. We have noted an increase in the number of customers every year, especially this year.”

Christele Barakat, marketing and events coordinator at Chabros International group, said: “We are the biggest suppliers of wood and veneer in UAE. Our headquarters are in Dubai, however we have branches in 18 countries. We provide big range of interior and exterior products like parquet wood flooring. We consider Dubai WoodShow a very important exhibition, where we meet the suppliers of wood as well as new clients.”

Lynn Wang, sales manager in the Wood department at CNBM International Corporation, said: “We are a government company in China, considered the biggest building material company. We are ranked 500 in the world in this field. We have manufacturing factories, but we concentrate more on trading. We export our products to GCC and North Africa and others. Our UAE branch is in Jebel Ali, and we sell a significant amount of wood yearly in the UAE. On the second day of the show, we signed six contracts with new customers.”

Dubai WoodShow 2015 featured various international pavilions hosted by participating countries like the United States, Canada, Germany, France, China, Malaysia, Sweden and others, it added. – TradeArabia News Service