Florida-based Gulf South Products has been awarded the highest recognition for a US exporter at a White House ceremony.
The Presidential E Award for Exports was presented by US Department of Commerce secretary John Bryson.
Fort Lauderdale-based Gulf South operates from a 153,000ft² storage/shipping facility in Alabama, exporting lumber, plywood and poles to 23 countries, with annual volumes in excess of 103 million board feet.
The company, a client of the department’s commercial service, said its participation in many government and private sector export trade events had greatly expanded its exports sales. Now, about 95% of its sales are exports, including to countries such as Taiwan, China and Africa.
Average annual export sales have grown 20% between 2008-2012 – fulfilling a major criterion for the award.
Gulf South was one of the first exporters to deliver lumber and plywood to Haiti following the country’s earthquake in 2010.
Forty-one US companies and organisations were presented with the E Award at a World Trade Week ceremony at the White House on May 17.
