International Wood International Wood 2005 | Page 8
Global Sourcing
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND MARKET TRENDS
A D I A L O G U E W I T H I W P A P R E S I D E N T, S E R G I O K O R N
Q
How long have you been involved in the imported wood
business?
Imported Wood recently sat down with newly elected IWPA
President Sergio Korn to get a broad perspective of the range of issues
importers are addressing. A native of Brazil, who has worked for global
trading companies since 1969, is fluent in Dutch, French, Portuguese,
Spanish, German, Italian, and English. We quickly learned that flex-
ibility in a global market has always been the way for importers.
I’ve been strictly in the U.S. imported business since 1994 - the same time
I joined IWPA. Before that I was with an international group of trading
companies beginning in the early 1970’s involved in exports of logs,
lumber, plywood and hardboard from Brazil, Malaysia, and Indonesia to
Europe and the U.S., and exports from the U.S. to Bolivia and Venezuela.
Henry T. Dessauer, Past President of IWPA, convinced me to register
for an IWPA Convention when I started my import business in 1994. It
virtually put me “on the map” with immediate business contacts and
useful market information.
Q
What is the current market situation for imported wood?
Growing! In 2004, the U.S. imported nearly $22 billion in wood and
wood products (not including furniture). Builders, architects and U.S.
manufacturers are finding imported wood products represent the best
of both worlds - quality products at affordable prices.
50th Annual Convention 51st Annual Convention
Tucson, Arizona
Arizona
Tucson,
April 5-7,
5-7, 2006
2006
April San Diego,
Diego, California
California
San
March 28-30,
28-30, 2007
2007
March
703-820-6696 • [email protected] • www.iwpawood.org
Expanding business
opportunities through increased
use of imported woods
Working for the entire
North American imported
wood products chain
8
IMPORTED WOOD
■ Business to business networking
■ Logistics and trade resources
■ Product and species trends and trade statistics
■ Market intelligence and timely
information updates
■ North American
Manufacturers, Distributors, and Importers
■ Ports, Shipping Lines, Logistics and
Service Providers
■ Overseas Manufacturers and
Trade Associations