Visitors from Turkey learn about Indiana hardwood industry

INDIANAPOLIS — A Turkish hardwoods trade mission was held in Indiana, hosted by Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana State Department of Agriculture.

Indiana’s hardwood industry exports were valued at over $167 million in 2022.

“Indiana’s hardwood industry annually contributes over $10 billion dollars to our state’s economy,” said Don Lamb, director of the ISDA.

“I was so excited to welcome this group of hardwood buyers to the state to see our great agricultural industry firsthand. The hardwoods sector provides over 70,000 jobs to Hoosiers and ranks us as the No. 1 producer of wood office furniture and second in kitchen cabinet manufacturing.”

The three goals for the Turkish delegation visiting the Hoosier State were to:

• Introduce Turkish buyers to Indiana suppliers.

• Generate sales and establish long-term customer relationships.

• Expand market access and foreign business for Indiana forest products: logs, lumber and veneer.

Turkish businesses are using Indiana hardwoods in regional construction projects in the Middle East where Turkey is a hub for manufacturing and products that are produced and sent to Europe.

“The visit to Indiana was a great experience for myself and for the Turkish delegation,” said Dila Ikiz, Istanbul-based agricultural specialist with the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service.

“Every person in the delegation thanked me after we left. I am confident in our efforts to create productive and long-term business relations with Turkey and the state of Indiana. The trip was very energetic, positive and productive.”

The trade group visited hardwood manufacturing facilities from across the state, from loggers in Paoli to timber buyers in Spencer to hardwood manufacturing in Akron, Columbia City and Logansport. Their trip began in Louisville, Kentucky, and ended in Chicago.

Participating Indiana business stops that welcomed the Turkish group were: Andis Logging, Paoli; Cole Hardwoods, Logansport; Holmes & Co., Columbia City; Land of Indiana, Bedford; Pike Lumber, Akron; and Tri-State Timber, Spencer.

The Turkish business men and women were interested in seeing and purchasing a variety of Indiana hardwood materials like logs, lumber and veneer in multiple species like white oak, hickory, ash, tulip and more.