Iranian war strands global timber shipments, but Arkansas impacts minimal 

By MARY HIGHTOWER | University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture

MONTICELLO, Arkansas — The conflict in the Strait of Hormuz is restricting imports to the rapidly growing timber markets in the Middle East and northern Africa, according to an industry outlet, but impacts on the Arkansas timber industry will likely be minimal, said Matthew Pelkki. 

Pelkki is a professor and George H. Clippert Chair of Forestry at the University of Arkansas at Monticello and director of the Arkansas Center for Forest Business. He’s also part of the Arkansas Forest Resources Center of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.  

The Middle Eastern and North African Market — or MENA — region has become a growing market for timber exporters, especially Russia, according to industry news outlet Wood Central. Russia shipped 1.7 million cubic meters of lumber there in 2024. The American Hardwood Export Council said U.S. hardwood lumber shipments to MENA rose 11% during the first six months of 2025, compared to the same period in 2024.  

“Arkansas sends about 17% of its production of wood out of state,” he said on Thursday. “Most goes to mills in surrounding states, especially Louisiana.  

“As far as internationally, our largest customer for Arkansas wood products is Mexico,” Pelkki said. “We do ship some hardwoods to the European Union, primarily Germany, and a lot of wood pellets to the United Kingdom.” 

Some hardwoods and logs end up in Vietnam as well, he said.   

“While the Middle Eastern and North African Market has grown substantially, it is still a small component of U.S. wood exports,” Pelkki said.  

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service, the U.S. exports $8.75 billion in wood products.  

Canada is the top destination, valued at $1.96 billion. The United Kingdom is second at $1.68 billion, and the European Union is third at $881 million. None of the Middle Eastern or North African nations is in the top 10. 

 However, “any loss or reduction of U.S. hardwood exports is going to cause prices for lumber to stagnate or drop, and as prices and quantity of those hardwoods decrease, it will have an effect on demand for hardwood timber,” Pelkki said. “But I think at this time, the effect of the war on Arkansas’ hardwood sawmills and forest landowners will be minimal.”