CANADIAN WOOD TO CHINA
Another Canadian wood products producer is making big moves in China. This time it’s privately-owned Tolko Industries of Vernon, B.C., which has just signed an agreement with China National Building Materials (CNBM). The new agreement will be added to an existing agreement the two companies already have in place.
According to the B.C. government, the Tolko business in China should support 400 mill and woodlands jobs in B.C., and will mean two of Tolko’s mills will be in full production mode. Tolko will ship Spruce-Pine-Fire (SPF) lumber products to China for distribution by CNBM. The end uses for the products are expected to be concrete forms, remanufactured products for decorative and furniture uses, and framing and roofing components.
“This agreement is yet another example of how the trade relationship between the B.C. forest industry and China just keeps getting stronger and stronger,” said B.C. premier Gordon Campbell in a government-issued news release. Premier Campbell is currently in China.
The first agreement between Tolko and CNBM was signed last November when Tolko executives were in China as part of a forest industry trade mission.
“The cooperation between the B.C. forest industry and governments to promote wood use in China are key to the success we’re seeing today,” said Tolko president and CEO Brad Thorlakson.
The B.C. government says China is the fastest growing export market for Canadian wood products. In 2009, 1.63 billion board feet of B.C. lumber was shipped to China. That’s double the 2008 number. The 2009 exports generated $327 million in revenues.
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