by John Barlow, Marketing Specialist
SCFC Marketing Specialist in Economic Development John Barlow represented the agency in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam from Nov. 18-21, participating in an outbound trade mission and the Vietnam Wood Show.
The goal of the trip was to explore potential new markets for forest products produced in South Carolina. Vietnam has a very large furniture industry that requires large volumes of raw materials not available in the country. There is a growing demand for logs and lumber to be processed into furniture which is then exported to other countries like the U.S.
The outbound trade mission was sponsored by the Southern United States Trade Association (SUSTA) and included 11 U.S. hardwood companies from several states. The mission aimed to promote southern U.S. products to the Vietnam market and facilitate potential sales.
The group visited four facilities and received a market briefing from the local office of the FAS (Foreign Agricultural Service), an agency within the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.
The trade mission ended with business-to-business meetings between the 11 U.S. companies and 11 Vietnamese companies. New sales were made, but total volumes are not currently available.
The Vietnam Wood show is the largest trade show with a focus on the wood industry in southeast Asia, and it’s a great exhibition for Vietnam’s woodworking industry.
For the 2025 show, there were:
- 300+ exhibitors and buyers from 27 countries
- 12,000+ visitors
Having an exhibit at the show provided opportunity for Forest Products South Carolina, the marketing arm of the SCFC, to meet with many potential new buyers of products produced in SC. These contacts have been sent out to the forest products industry in the state, and we expect new business relationships and sales to materialize soon.