RICHMOND, Va. – Gov. Terry McAuliffe has announced a new export lumber sale agreement between Virginia and Mexico after his recent trade and marketing mission to Mexico.
The agreement involves Northwest Hardwoods Inc., which has sectors in Buena Vista, Virginia, Triplay y Maderas de Mayoreo, based in Aguascalientes, Mexico, and Productos Forestales la Mision, based in Mexico City.
Northwest Hardwoods, which has headquarters in Tacoma, Washington, acquired two sawmill operations in Buena Vista in 2015. The company produces high-quality yellow poplar, red oak and white oak lumber, among other species.
“International trading partnerships are critical to the growth and diversification of the new Virginia economy,” said McAuliffe. “I made it clear while on my trade mission to Mexico that Virginia is interested in building bridges of trade, not walls of isolation. Virginia values fair trade, and we are always looking for opportunities to strengthen and expand partnerships. I am thrilled to see our efforts to globally promote Virginia’s forest products have generated new business for our companies.”
Agricultural and forestry exports from Virginia were valued at $2.78 billion in 2016. As of March, Mexico has been the largest importer of Virginia meat products.
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Virginia ranks fifth in the nation in pork exports to Mexico, supplying about 7 percent of the 2017 total U.S. pork exports to that country.
Other top agriculture exports from Virginia to Mexico include wheat, poultry and tobacco. The new sales of yellow poplar to Mexico are expected to generate more demand for the species in the market and drive future sales for Virginia producers.
“We really appreciate working with the commonwealth of Virginia and value the initiatives to help grow sales from that region, where the forest resource is some of the best available in the world,” said Robert Santoro, Latin American and Caribbean accounts manager for Northwest Hardwoods.