In April, Hancock Lumber partnered with NeLMA to host a group of seven representatives of companies located in Pakistan who import Eastern White Pine lumber. The group was led by the Agriculture Marketing Specialist, Rashid Raja, of the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan. This was the 4th Pakistani importers group hosted by NELMA since 2014 with the purpose of educating potential buyers of Eastern White Pine regarding all aspects of its manufacture and grading of the product.
The group came to our Casco Eastern White Pine Sawmill to learn firsthand how Hancock Lumber processes logs to lumber, interacts with mill personnel + importing companies, and more. NeLMA also utilized our lumber graders to demonstrate the process of grading lumber.
Jeff Easterling, President of NeLMA, reflected on the relationship with Pakistan and their importers:
“Pakistan is the largest buyer of Eastern White Pine lumber products globally and NELMA is always pleased to continue to provide these opportunities to educate these visitor groups on behalf of our membership. We also greatly appreciate the manufacturing members mills that open their doors to these groups that help us effectively promote Eastern White Pine.”
Matt Duprey, Chief Sales Officer, Eastern White Pine reflects about the relationship with Pakistan and their love for the product:
“Hancock Lumber has always opened its doors to touring potential customers or groups that are involved in the Eastern White Pine community. I have always been a proponent of being a good steward to our Eastern White Pine community. It is a bright future and anything Hancock Lumber or myself can do to help the industry as a whole I am all in. Hancock Lumber was the first mill to send Eastern White Pine to Pakistan, and we have some really good partners and friends in that country. Eastern White Pine has turned into being a bit iconic as the product has grown in use over the years.
The importation of EWP into Pakistan has created many jobs for people of Pakistan as they manufacture decorative moldings and doors out of the product. They are grateful for the product as it works better than other species due to its natural resistance to decay, dryness, workability and dimensional stability. It has been over 20 years since doing this business and it is still thriving today. This group of businessmen, amongst many others care about the future and supply of Eastern White Pine in Pakistan. It was great to spend the day with them and share conversation about Eastern White Pine.”