The West Virginia Department of Agriculture recently hosted an inbound trade mission in partnership with the Southern United States Trade Association (SUSTA), connecting international buyers from India and Vietnam with West Virginia’s log and lumber industry, according to a press release from the WVDA.
The mission, held March 26-28, focused exclusively on forest products, with visiting buyers touring log yards and sawmill facilities across the state. Stops included Cherry River Lumber in Richwood, Meadow River Hardwood Lumber in Rainelle and Laurel Creek Hardwoods in Richwood. Buyers also met with additional companies in one-on-one meetings before the site visits.
Throughout the mission, participating companies had the opportunity to build relationships, discuss specifications and explore export opportunities with vetted international buyers. The effort resulted in multiple contract awards, underscoring strong global demand for West Virginia hardwoods and wood products.
“SUSTA inbound missions like this create meaningful opportunities for our natural resource industries,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt, current president of SUSTA. “By bringing international buyers directly to our operations, we are helping West Virginia businesses expand their reach and compete in global markets.”
“This mission gave our companies the chance to build strong, direct relationships with international buyers and showcase the quality of West Virginia hardwoods firsthand,” said Ashley Amos, WVDA Business Development Planning Coordinator and SUSTA liaison. “The connections made during these visits will continue to create opportunities for our producers well into the future.”
