SCFC Forest Products Marketing Specialist John Barlow authored two recent reports: the annual forest product trade report for South Carolina and the 2025 Vietnam outbound trade mission and trade show.
SC Forest Products Industry Trade Report 2025
This report is a detailed look at the past 10 years of international trade of forest products from the state of South Carolina. It highlights what products we trade and with whom by volume and value. This information is then used to determine which areas of the world to focus the SCFC marketing efforts.
If you’re interested in reading more about international trade, this publication is available online to read or download, or you can come by Barlow’s office at headquarters in Columbia to pick up a hard copy.
Vietnam Outbound Trade Mission & Wood Trade Show
This report is a detailed look at the marketing trip John Barlow made in October 2025 to Vietnam. Vietnam is the second largest market for SC exports of pine logs, purchasing around $14 million of this product in 2025. For this reason, Vietnam is a focus area for marketing.
The trip was funded by the Southern United States Trade Association (SUSTA). Barlow partners with SUSTA as a wood product specialist, and the trip included both a trade mission and trade show. Eleven representatives from southern U.S. wood products companies attended the trade mission, and they had business discussions with several Vietnamese companies and toured some of their mills.
The U.S. companies also exhibited at the Vietnam Wood Trade Show, the largest trade show with a focus on the wood industry in southeast Asia. Barlow was an exhibitor at the trade show, representing South Carolina and its many forest product companies. During the trip, many contacts were developed, and these leads were shared with SC forest product producers to follow up with.
If you’re interested in reading more about international trade trip reports, this publication is available online to read or download, or you can come by Barlow’s office at headquarters in Columbia to pick up a hard copy.
Although John Barlow completed the research and writing for both publications, he emphasizes that all publications are a group effort between Resource Development and Communication and Public Information. Resource Development could not produce any decent publication without their expertise and guidance!