NEWS

China exported 6.2 million cubic meters of plywood in the first six months of 2025, a 12% increase over last year. Both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates imported 50% more plywood from China so far this year. Imports into Nigeria grew by 39%; into Australia, by 21%; and into the Philippines, by 3%.

In July, the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association testified in detail in the U.S. Court of International Trade about an alleged sophisticated scheme to transship cabinets manufactured in China through Malaysia to the U.S. to avoid duties.

PHOTO OF KCMA CEO BETSY NATZ © KCMA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced its restructuring plan. It appears that more than half of the 4,600 employees in the Washington, D.C. area will be moved into one of five hubs: Raleigh, NC; Kansas City, MO; Indianapolis, IN; Fort Collins, CO; and Salt Lake City, UT. The nine U.S. Forest Service regional offices will be eliminated over the next year.

PHOTO © LANCE CHEUNG, USDA

In an interview with Floor Daily, DHA President Keith Christman outlined how the landscape for U.S. imports of wood products is fundamentally changing as the U.S. takes steps to begin to level the playing field. The hope is that this will create a more equitable market for U.S. manufacturers of decorative hardwoods. 

At this year's annual meeting, the DHA board of directors asked us to ramp up advocacy for the Forest Service International Programs Wood Identification and Screening Center (WISC). We did—and were successful. The program will be funded. WISC provides the scientific testing to verify species and sources of wood imports, and is an essential enforcement mechanism to prevent illegal logging from flooding U.S. markets.