American Softwoods is a promotional partnership formed by three major U.S. softwood trade associations, namely the Southern Forest Products Association, Softwood Export Council and APA – The Engineered Wood Association.
Southern Forest Products Association (SFPA)
SFPA was founded in 1915 as the Southern Pine Association. Today, SFPA is recognized as one of the foremost trade organizations in the forest products industry and represents Southern Pine lumber manufacturers from the states of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas. SFPA’s member companies produce about 43% of the Southern Pine lumber in the United States.
Softwood Export Council (SEC)
The SEC is a trade council of U.S. softwood grading agencies, industry trade associations, state export promotional development agencies, and others interested in promotion of U.S. softwood internationally. The SEC aids American exports of softwood products by providing information and assistance to agents, importers, designers, and users of these products in other countries. Through trade association and grading agency members, SEC represents softwood exporters of lumber, veneer, mouldings and millwork and component products. Member grading agencies of the Softwood Export Council (SEC) are:
- Pacific Lumber Inspection Bureau
- West Coast Lumber Inspection Bureau
- Western Wood Products Association
- Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers
APA – The Engineered Wood Association
APA was founded in 1933 as the Douglas Fir Plywood Association, and was later recognized as the American Plywood Association. APA members are comprised of well-known industry leaders, whose mills produce the majority of the structural wood panel products manufactured in North America, plus a host of engineered wood products that include glued laminated timber (glulam), composite panels, wood I-joists, and structural composite lumber.
