Total value of American hardwood lumber and veneer exported totaled reached USD 8.87 million in 2024

The total value of exports of U.S. hardwood lumber and veneers to India in 2024 was USD 8.87 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 today (March 06, 2025) at the opening of INDIAWOOD, which is due to run until March 09, 2025 at the India Expo Mart and Centre (IEML), Greater Noida, Delhi-NCR, India. Demand for American hardwoods remained strong in India last year leading to another year of growth in this important market.

A closer look at the numbers for 2024 reveal that total hardwood lumber shipped from the United States to India increased by 4 percent in value to USD 7.304 million (up from USD 7.024 million in 2023) but decreased by 6 percent in volume to 10,934 cubic meters (down from 11,604 cubic meters in 2023). At the same time, direct exports of American hardwood veneers to the market increased by 8 percent to reach USD 1.568 million. Another strong year of exports coupled with India’s growing appetite for temperate hardwoods in the face of decreasing local supply has bolstered U.S. hardwood exporters to become increasingly active in India.

The top six American hardwood species exported to India last year were red oak (USD 2.153 million and 3,479m3), white oak (USD 2.095 million and 2,934m3), hickory (USD 1.649 million and 1,897m3), walnut (USD 448,000 and 562m3), ash (USD 380,000 and 710m3) and maple (USD 194,000 and 326m3). The biggest increases were seen in the value and volume of exports of red oak (72 percent and 61 percent), hickory (40 percent and 33 percent), and walnut (49 percent and 72 percent). According to AHEC, the emergence of red oak as the main species exported, accounting for almost 30 percent of the value of American hardwood lumber exported to India in 2024, is an extremely positive development in this expanding market.

"India offers massive potential for the consumption of American hardwoods across many different sectors and both for domestic and export manufacturing. Our commitment to cater to and expand further in this market at a time when demand for American hardwoods is at an unprecedented high has not changed. In fact, this growing interest must be supported by a better understanding of the physical properties and potential for applications offered by the different species of American hardwood. While we were unable to participate in INDIAWOOD this year, due to reasons outside of our control, throughout the remainder of 2025, we plan to further help grow this market, particularly given the pressing need for alternative sources of hardwood lumber in India," concluded Roderick Wiles, AHEC Regional Director.