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BC Wood to host Canada’s largest international buyers show
Sept. 4, 2018 - More than 400 buyers and specifiers of value-added wood products will be hosted by BC Wood Specialties Group (BC Wood) at its 15th annual Global Buyers Mission (GBM) Sept. 6-8 in Whistler, B.C. The GBM is Canada’s largest and most important show for sellers and buyers of value-added wood products. The pre-qualified buyers — hailing from 20 plus countries worldwide — will join 300 BC and Canadian manufacturers exhibiting at the event.
September 4, 2018 By BC Wood
Last year the GBM generated about $48 million in new direct sales, but according to BC Wood CEO Brian Hawrysh, “the larger benefit lies in the quality leads and relationships fostered for long-term growth, which according to a recently completed Natural Resources Canada survey, is already occurring”. Although the NRCan data is still preliminary, Hawrysh notes that “between 2012 and 2016, BC’s value-added wood sales have increased 8 per cent, the number of value-added firms has increased 18% and employment in the sector is up by 9 per cent.”
Value-added manufacturing is job-intensive, ranging from 36 jobs per 1000 m3 for cabinets; to 12 per 1000 m3 for millwork; and 1-3 per 1000 m3 for engineered wood, furniture, etc. This compares favourably to the less than one job per 1000 m3 in woodlands and primary mill operations, but the two are not mutually exclusive because most value-added companies source their feedstock from primary producers.
Countries confirmed to participate at the 2018 GBM include Australia, Belgium, China, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Taiwan, the Netherlands, Vietnam, the United Kingdom and the United States.
In conjunction with the GBM, BC Wood will once again host the popular WoodTALKS event for architects, designers, developers, public officials and other wood specifiers. WoodTALKS educates, inspires and informs on the use of wood in design and construction.
Finally, more than 60 attendees will participate in the GBM’s extended-mission program tours to see how value-added wood products are made and used, and lay the foundation for future business relationships. This includes tours of production facilities that process both coastal species and SPF, as well as large-scale mass-timber buildings.
Developed and managed by BC Wood, the GBM is supported by funding from government, industry and attending delegates. Government supporters include BC’s Forestry Innovation Investment and the Government of Canada; both Natural Resources Canada and the Ministry of International Trade.
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