Costa Rican firm Smith Forestal has won a US$264,000 export order to supply 6,000m3 of gmelina logs as an alternative to pressure treated hardwood.
The company, part of Florida-based real estate company Senticore Inc, reports increased interest in gmelina, also known as melina or white beech, from homebuilders and furniture manufacturers around the world.
Smith Forestal is optimistic the species will grow in favour with builders and lumber buyers as an alternative to timber treated with chromated copper arsenate, which is being banned by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Canadian importer and freight forwarder Viamar Scilla Transport International Inc ordered the gmelina shipment. The previous week it also purchased US$990,000 worth of pino caribe logs from Senticore merger partner Westar South America, based in Venezuela.
