TheexportvalueofUnitedStateshardwoodtoChinajumped34percentyear-on-yearin2014asthecountryincreaseditsdemandformoresustainablysourcedmaterialsforitsurbanizationprogramandforenvironmentalprojects.

ThevalueofUShardwoodproductssoldintoChinareached$1.53billionlastyear,accordingtodatafromtheforeignagriculturalserviceoftheUSDepartmentofAgriculture.

Themostpopulartimberwasredoak,tulipwoodandash,mainlyforfurniture,veneers,flooring,anddecorativeplywoods.Themarketnowaccountsfor42.6percentoftotalexportvolumeofUShardwoods,byfartheworld'slargestsinglecustomer.

ChinesedemandforUSwoodhadbeenfocusedonthelargepopulationcentersalongthecoast－citiessuchasShanghai,Guangzhou,TianjinandBeijing－withconsiderableamountsthenre-exportedasmanufacturedgoods,aswellasconsumedlocally.

Thefiguresshowedthatthenationshippedfurnitureworth$54billiontotheglobalmarketlastyear.

ButMikeSnow,executivedirectoroftheAmericanHardwoodExportCouncil,saidChina'sbiggestcitiesawayfromtheeastcoast－suchasChongqing,Sichuanprovince'scapitalChengduandthecapitalofHubeiprovinceWuhan－whichweretraditionallylesswell-equippedtoprocesstimber,arenowofferingtheUSindustrytremendousopportunities.

"Allthenewhomes,hotels,shoppingcenters,restaurantsandofficeblocksbeingbuiltneedflooring,cabinetry,doorsandwindows,aswellasbuildingmaterialsmadeusingwoodproducts,"saidSnow. "Thepotentialisimmense."

HeadquarteredinWashingtonDC,thecouncilisanonprofittradeassociationrepresentingover100UShardwoodexportersandtradeassociations.

JohnChan,itsregionaldirectorforChinaandSoutheastAsia,saidbeforethe2008globalfinancialcrisis,muchofthewoodboughtbyChinawasre-exportedintheformoffurniture,flooringorotherfinishedproducts.

FollowingthecollapseoftheUShousingmarketandothersinEurope,however,manyChinesemanufacturershavebeenlookingdomesticallyforsales.

"TheresulthasbeeneverhigherdemandforUShardwood,"Chansaid.

"RisingwagesinChinahavecreatedanexplodingmiddleclass,andnew,additionaldemandforUShardwoodproducts."