Photo: Timber buyers from the Dominican Republic, Great Britian, Mexico, Poland, Spain and Vietnam tour Rutland Lumber Mill in Collins, Mississippi, as part of an inbound trade mission. (MDAC photo)
This week, the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) and the Southern United States Trade Association (SUSTA) hosted an inbound trade mission with timber buyers from the Dominican Republic, Great Britain, Mexico, Poland, Spain and Vietnam.
“The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce was honored to partner with SUSTA to host a second Timber Trade Mission showcasing Mississippi’s third largest agricultural industry,” said Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson. “Timber is the leading agricultural commodity in over half of the counties in the state, with a value of production of $1.48 billion in 2023. Export markets for Mississippi wood products continue to grow and trade missions like this are instrumental in developing new international trade opportunities.”
The first Timber Trade Mission hosted by MDAC and SUSTA in 2022 resulted in millions of dollars in exports for the state of Mississippi. The 2024 trade delegation toured Rutland Lumber in Collins, Hood Industries in Silver Creek and REX Lumber in Brookhaven before attending the Mississippi Timber Products Showcase at the Mississippi Trade Mart. During a follow-up showcase, these international trade delegates held business to business meetings and visited with six Mississippi timber companies from around the state, including Hardwoods of America, Hood Industries, LandMAX Properties, REX Lumber, Rutland Lumber and Southeastern Timber Products.
MDAC provided the visiting timber buyers with an exclusive look into Mississippi sawmills and the unique process of making diverse wood products ready for export. The tours included demonstrations and in-depth talks on utilizing every part of our state’s hardwoods and southern yellow pine softwoods, which exhibited the extensive capacity and sustainability of Mississippi timber.
Visit https://timber.mdac.ms.gov to learn more about the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce’s Timber Commerce Division.
During a follow-up Timber Products Showcase, international trade delegates held business to business meetings with six timber companies from around the state and met with Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson. (MDAC photo)
