2026 Reverse Trade Mission
SFPA recently welcomed six suppliers, importers, and design-build professionals from throughout the Caribbean for our 2026 Reverse Trade Mission, showcasing how Southern Pine lumber is sustainably produced in the U.S. Over three days in Florida and Alabama, participants toured nurseries, tree farms, and sawmills to see the process from seedling to shipment.
A special thanks to SFPA lumber manufacturer members Swift Lumber and West Fraser – McDavid, Florida, for opening their mills, to the Southern Pine Inspection Bureau for hands-on insights into grading and quality assurance, and to the Port of Mobile for a behind-the-scenes tour of how lumber is shipped out of the U.S.
One participant’s story perfectly captures why these Reverse Trade Missions are so valuable:
One of the most impactful experiences for me was the visit to the Southern Pine Inspection Bureau. This visit provided valuable insight into the complexities of lumber inspection and deepened my appreciation for the meticulous processes involved in preparing lumber to meet the highest standards for end users.
The tours of the various mills were equally enlightening. It was fascinating to observe the diversity in operational approaches — some facilities have embraced advanced automation, while others are actively working toward modernization to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and prepare for the integration of technically advanced wood products.
The forest visits were both educational and eye-opening. I was particularly intrigued to learn about the different types of pine cones and the strategic planning involved in tree planting. These experiences served as a powerful reminder of the importance of not taking even the smallest details for granted.
Overall, the mission provided a comprehensive view of the Southern Yellow Pine industry, from forest to finished product. It reinforced the importance of strategic planning, innovation, and sustainability in maintaining the competitiveness of Southern Yellow Pine Lumber in the global market. The experience strengthened professional connections and reaffirmed a shared commitment to excellence in the wood products industry.
Welcome New Members
We’re excited to share that JADCO Manufacturing and Rawlings Manufacturing have recently joined SFPA — and the greater Southern Pine lumber community. It’s always a thrill to see our family of members grow, and we can’t wait to see the ideas, expertise, and energy these organizations bring to the table.
Click their names to learn more about each of them and what they’re contributing to the Southern Pine community.
Welcome aboard — we’re so glad you’re here!
Forest Products EXPO
Host City and Dates Update
The SFPA team is finalizing plans for EXPO 2027, and we plan to announce the host city and dates in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!
Did You Miss the Safety Summit at EXPO?
SFPA introduced the inaugural Sawmill Safety Summit at Forest Products EXPO 2025. This 45-minute Safety Summit featured representatives from each of the recognized mills who shared their approaches to building a strong safety culture and real-world advice for improving safety performance. Check out the replay!
Check Out the Women’s Leadership Summit Replay
The inaugural Women’s Leadership Summit panel discussion featuring four phenomenal women leaders who dived into topics like mentorship, sales and marketing excellence, and strategic communications, didn’t just talk about theory — they shared real-world strategies — what they’ve lived and experienced out there.
Expanding The Southern Pine Lumber Resource
New Headers and Beams Publication
Have you checked out our newest technical publication, Allowable Load Tables for Machine-Graded Lumber, which provides six newly developed load tables for the two most commonly produced grades of machine-graded Southern Pine lumber: 2,400F – 2.0E and M-23?
These new tables offer engineers, designers, and builders greater flexibility and confidence in specifying high-performance Southern Pine lumber. As machine-graded lumber continues to gain popularity, the industry must have access to reliable, up-to-date design resources.
This is the first new technical publication SFPA has published in more than 10 years, and we were proud to work with SFPA member companies, the Southern Pine Inspection Bureau (SPIB), and the MSR Lumber Producers Council to create these new tables support the increasing demand for Southern Pine lumber in structural applications.
Getting Started With Southern Pine: A User’s Guide to the Strong, Sustainable, and Smart Lumber Option
As Southern Pine lumber becomes more established in markets where it hasn’t traditionally been used, SFPA is at the forefront — helping new users, DIY enthusiasts, and design-build professionals discover the versatility, strength, and beauty of this iconic wood through this new publication.
I can’t wait to share the finished product in the coming weeks!
Promotional Activities
We continue to heavily promote Southern Pine lumber at activities and events around the globe. Check out where we’ve been recently and where we’re headed:
- Saudi Wood Expo – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Sylva Wood – Shanghai, China
- International Softwood Conference – Oslo, Norway
- U.S. Agricultural Export Development Council Annual Workshop – Baltimore, Maryland
- Feria de la Construccion – Montevideo, Uruguay
- VietnamWood – Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
It’s always exciting to meet with industry professionals, our members, and design-build professionals throughout the world to continue promoting the premier building material!