Total value of American hardwood lumber, logs and veneer exported reached USD 12.284 million in 2025

The total value of U.S. hardwood lumber, logs and veneers exported to India in 2025 was USD 12.284 million, according to the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), the leading international trade association for the American hardwood industry. The statistics, which have been compiled from the latest data released by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), were announced at the opening of INDIAWOOD (February 26, 2026), which is due to run until March 02, 2026 at the Bangalore International Exhibition Center (BIEC). Demand for American hardwoods was at an all-time high last year, leading to a record year of exports to this important market.

A closer look at the numbers for 2025 reveal that total hardwood lumber shipped from the United States to India increased by 37 percent in value to USD 9.98 million (up from USD 7.304 million in 2024) and increased by 46 percent in volume to 15,996 cubic meters (up from 10,934 cubic meters in 2024). At the same time, direct exports of American hardwood veneers and logs to India reached a value of USD 891,000 and USD 1.413 million respectively. AHEC’s participation at INDIAWOOD aims to support the increased demand for American hardwoods in India and follows a trade servicing mission and networking evening hosted in Jodhpur earlier this month, which was intended to help strengthen business ties between the manufacturers in Jodhpur and American hardwood exporters.

The top six American hardwood species exported to India last year were red oak (USD 2.746 million and 4,758m3), white oak (USD 2.541 million and 3,650m3), hickory (USD 2.207 million and 2,983m3), ash (USD 788,000 and 1,438m3), maple (USD 532,000 and 945m3) and walnut (USD 445,000 and 470m3). The biggest increases were seen in the value and volume of exports of maple (175 percent and 127 percent), ash (107 percent and 103 percent), and red oak (37 percent and 46 percent). According to AHEC, the emergence of oak as the main species exported, accounting for over 50 percent of the value of American hardwood lumber exported to India in 2025, is an extremely positive development in this expanding market.

The American Hardwood Pavilion at INDIAWOOD 2026 serves to highlight the variety of American hardwood species while also throwing the spotlight on the benefits of the value-added processes undertaken to supply such a high quality and high yielding kiln-dried raw material. A total of eight U.S. hardwood log, lumber and veneer exporters plus the Hardwood States Export Group (HSEG) under the banner of the American Hardwood Pavilion are present at INDIAWOOD 2026. Participating companies include Amos-Hill Associates, Inc, Baillie Lumber, Devereaux Sawmill, Hartzell Lumber, Kamps Hardwoods, Midwest Hardwood Company LLC, Missouri Walnut, and Wheeland Lumber.

“India represents significant opportunities for the utilization of American hardwoods across various sectors, including both for domestic and export manufacturing. Our ongoing commitment to serve and expand within this market remains unchanged, particularly as demand for American hardwoods reaches unprecedented levels. This increasing interest requires a deeper understanding of the physical properties and application possibilities associated with the diverse species of American hardwood. Our return to INDIAWOOD this year is in line with our aim to support the growth of this market throughout 2026, especially given the urgent requirement for alternative sources of hardwood lumber in India," concluded Roderick Wiles, AHEC Regional Director.