Estonia’s largest processor of wood, Imavere Sawmill, is to increase exports of beam timber to the US tenfold next year and make inroads into the Asian market.
Manager Peedo Pihlak says preliminary agreements have been signed to ship 30,000m³ of beam timber used in construction to the US next year.
It will deliver about 500m³ of sawn timber to the US monthly until the end of the year.
The move sees a change in Imavere’s export patterns. During 2002 Europe’s role will diminish while the US will rise to third place after the Netherlands and Egypt.
Imavere also plans to export 30,000m³ of planed construction timber to Asia next year.
Mr Pihlak said: ‘If the European markets are affected by another 20% slump, the impact on us won’t be as big thanks to the Asian and American markets.’
