The Carrefour International du Bois is not only a forum for the international timber trade to do business, but its conference programme also makes it the place to hear experts address key market issues and the sector’s wider outlook. Mike Jeffree reports
Summary Box:
• CIB takes place from June 2 to 4
• The show features over 630 stands, with global timber businesses
• UK and Ireland visitor numbers rose by 29% in 2024
• CIB has an extensive conference programme
Besides being Europe’s leading international exclusively timber trade exhibition, with exhibitors from around the world, the Carrefour International du Bois (CIB) is also renowned for its wide-ranging conference programme.
This year the show, which takes place at the Parc des Expositions de la Beaujoire Nantes, France, from June 2 to 4, looks set to reinforce that reputation.
With simultaneous translation via an app and English subtitles where required, the presentations cover the spectrum of key timber sector topics. They range from economic trends impacting the industry, to evolution of new products and latest applications of wood.
CIB President Jean Piveteau, in conjunction with market analysts IFOP Group, addresses the market environment, the impact of latest economic developments and the outlook for the international timber trade.
Complementing this, Ashley Steel of the UN FAO and Jean-François Guilbert of the timber market development organisation French Timber will look at global timber production and latest timber trade dynamics.
Longer term issues of availability are the topic of ‘The French Resource – will we still have timber tomorrow?’. Leading experts from the French timber and forestry sector will analyse available resources, climate impacts and competing uses for fibre and
assess how these affect the outlook for French supply.
Another subject will be creating value from all timber species. Speakers will examine how to promote underused and ‘crisis-affected’ species, with real-life case studies illustrating new and innovative applications for these varieties.
Connected with this, oak, pine and spruce experts and a representative from the French Forest Health Department will look at the climate change and phytosanitary situation and their consequences for future timber quality and availability.
Under the headline ‘Climate: Can Wood Really Make a Difference?’, figures from academia, and the environmental, timber and forestry sectors will also discuss leveraging the forest-based industries’ contribution to low-carbon strategies.
The increased use of timber in construction in France and across the rest of Europe will be another key conference focus.
Off-site construction and the capacity of the timber industry to maximise use of its products in this developing sector will be evaluated by representatives of industry bodies and construction operations. And application of timber in large-scale buildings will be examined, looking at the technical, economic and regulatory issues that have implications for its use.
With the growing focus worldwide on shifting to a circular, low carbon economic model, speakers from the architectural and engineering sectors will discuss the methods and tools available for structural timber reuse and its integration into construction projects.
Another highlight will be an ‘Architectural Evening’. Architects will explore bio-inspired design and architectural approaches ‘inspired by biomimicry’.
Renowned Italian architect Mauel Benedikter will also share his vision on how incorporating timber in construction can transform architectural expression.
While some of the conference programme will focus on the French experience, the issues addressed clearly have international relevance and interest, reflecting the ever-increasing international profile of the CIB itself.
The biennial event, which this year will feature more than 630 stands, attracts timber businesses from around the world. At the last show in 2024, 39% of exhibitors were from outside France, as were the same percentage of the 13,500 visitors.
“CIB continues to attract a truly global audience from across Europe, North Africa the Americas and more,” said Commercial and International Business Manager Samantha Padden. “Top countries in terms of visitors included Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, Brazil, Germany and the UK.”
In 2024, there were a number of new developments at the show. There was an increased focus on grouping stands by sector. Also, the CIB moved from its Wednesday to Friday slot to its current Tuesday to Thursday timing and incorporated the biggest hall, XXL, at the Nantes Beaujoire exhibition complex.
Introducing these changes was a significant move, but they proved a success.
“The switch to the Tuesday to Thursday format was praised by attendees, and they said that the clearer sectorisation improved navigation and visibility across the show,” said Samantha Padden. “The incorporation of Hall XXL also gives us 28% more gross floor space, enabling us to accommodate more exhibitors, including those who had been on the waiting list in previous years due to space limitations.”
While it continues to grow and evolve, however, the CIB organisers are also intent on retaining the ‘human-scale’ which has been integral to its appeal. A key part of this is the 54m2 maximum limit on stand size, which ensures small to medium-sized businesses get their share of exposure.
“Before committing to more space, we also assessed all related aspects including exhibitors’ layout needs, VIP area availability, requirements of expos and the show’s innovation area and catering,” said Samantha Padden.
Other features of the exhibition will be product pitches, TV set conferences, round tables, workshops, and design-focused installations in partnership with institutions like the École Supérieure du Bois.
Meanwhile, reflecting the continuing advance in the use of timber in building, the construction products focused hall is expected to be busier than ever this year.
“In 2024, the construction sector represented 23% of exhibitor typologies and accounted for 17% of visitors,” said Samanatha Padden. “And this year the show will further highlight innovative techniques and products in timber construction.”
National and regional pavilions will once more be a feature of the CIB, providing information on timber and wood products on offer and business contacts.
In 2024, the number of visitors from the UK and Ireland rose by 29% and the show has been targeting its marketing outreach at both countries to generate further interest in the event, billed as ‘one of the most comprehensive timber product offerings under one roof’. The organisers stress that Nantes is easily accessible by air and rail and, that while most exhibitors will have English speakers on hand, show personnel can provide translation services where required. This year the CIB has also initiated a partnership with Timber Development UK.
Samantha Padden recently appeared as a guest on the Talking Timber Podcast (www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1P1RdB01dM) talking about this year’s event and she further highlighted that building its UK and Irish audience is a priority for the show.
