Nine US hardwood exporters will meet manufacturers as exports to India are set to reach record levels.
The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), the international trade association for the American hardwood industry, will host a networking event and trade servicing mission in Jodhpur in Feb 2026, ahead of its participation at IndiaWood 2026, as demand for US hardwoods in India continues to grow.
Nine US hardwood exporters, alongside technical consultants from AHEC, will travel to Rajasthan to carry out a series of factory visits with furniture and handicraft manufacturers based in and around Jodhpur.
The programme will culminate in an evening seminar and networking event, organised in collaboration with the Jodhpur Handicrafts Exporters Association (JHEA). Following the Jodhpur visit, the delegation will travel to Bengaluru, where AHEC will host an American Hardwood Pavilion at IndiaWood 2026, running from 26 Feb to 2 Mar.
Strengthening ties with Indian manufacturers
AHEC said the initiative builds on earlier joint activities with JHEA and aims to strengthen commercial links between US hardwood exporters and manufacturers in one of India’s most important furniture and handicraft clusters.
Factory visits will allow exporters to better understand the raw material challenges faced by JHEA members, while the seminar will introduce manufacturers to American hardwood species and supply chains. The event will also outline AHEC’s work on compliance with the EU’s Deforestation-free Regulation (EUDR), including the development of the American Hardwood Assured (AHA) platform.
Roderick Wiles, AHEC regional director, said manufacturers in Jodhpur consume large volumes of hardwood lumber, largely for export markets including the US, Europe, Australia and the Middle East.
“More recently, they have had to deal with the challenges of decreasing traditional sources of wood supply, and a strong focus on avoiding any wood products that might come from illegal sources in the main consuming countries of North America and Europe,” he said. “An effective strategy to overcome these challenges is to manufacture products from American hardwoods, which are not only abundant, but backed by an assurance of legality and sustainability.”
Export growth and long-term potential
Demand for North American hardwood lumber has risen steadily, with 2025 on track to be another record year for US hardwood exports to India, according to AHEC.
While export-oriented furniture and handicraft manufacturers — particularly those concentrated in Rajasthan — currently represent the strongest market opportunity, AHEC said longer-term growth is expected to come from India’s domestic furniture sector.
That market is currently served largely by smaller manufacturers producing bespoke furniture, joinery and flooring. However, AHEC said manufacturers in Jodhpur are increasingly seeking to expand beyond exports and tap into growing domestic demand.
“India offers massive potential for the consumption of American hardwoods across many different sectors and both for domestic and export manufacturing,” Wiles said. “Jodhpur is just one centre for the production of wooden furniture and handicrafts and there are others in Rajasthan, as well as in other states.”
American Hardwood Pavilion at IndiaWood
At IndiaWood 2026, the American Hardwood Pavilion will showcase a wide range of US hardwood species, alongside value-added processing such as kiln drying, which AHEC says delivers high-quality and high-yield raw material for manufacturers.
The pavilion will feature nine US hardwood log, lumber and veneer exporters, alongside the Hardwood States Export Group (HSEG). Participating companies include Amos-Hill Associates, Baillie Lumber, Church Hardwood Lumber, Devereaux Sawmill, Hartzell Lumber, Kamps Hardwoods, Midwest Hardwood Company, Missouri Walnut and Wheeland Lumber.
All images courtesy of the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC).
