May 2026

Savannah Bound: EXPO 2027 is Open for Business

There is something fitting about bringing the forest products industry together in Savannah, Georgia. The city sits at the intersection of timber country and global commerce, flanked by working forests to the north and west, and by one of the nation’s busiest container ports to the east. For an industry that turns trees into the materials that build homes, frame walls, and move goods across the world, Savannah is not just a backdrop. It is a statement.

This month, SFPA officially launched exhibit space sales for EXPO 2027, and it is worth taking a moment to appreciate how far this event has come.

The story began in 1950, when SFPA hosted the very first show in New Orleans, Louisiana, a hub of Southern commerce with deep ties to the timber trade. What started as a gathering of industry professionals looking to connect and do business has grown into one of the most respected trade events in the forest products world. The professionals who walk the show floor at EXPO 2027 will be part of a tradition stretching back through generations of sawyers, engineers, loggers, manufacturers, and innovators who believed this industry was worth investing in.

This year’s theme, Industry in Motion, captures where the forest products trade finds itself today. Mills are modernizing. Supply chains are adapting. Wood products are showing up in new applications, new markets, and new conversations about sustainable building. The goal is a show floor that feels like the industry it represents: dynamic, forward-looking, and full of the kind of energy that only happens when the right people are in the same room.

Savannah provides exactly that setting. The riverfront Savannah Convention Center offers world-class exhibit space alongside the city’s natural charm, great restaurants, historic neighborhoods, and Southern hospitality that make a business trip feel worthwhile. There is also a certain poetry in returning the show to the Deep South, not far in spirit from where it all began on the banks of the Mississippi.

75 years is a remarkable run for any industry event. EXPO 2027 in Savannah is the next chapter, and it is one worth being part of. Exhibit space is available now, and the best locations will go quickly.

Mark your calendar, talk to the team, and get ready for Savannah in 2027.

Southern Pine lumber shipments in February totaled 1.746 billion board feet (Bbf). February’s shipments totaled 3.4% above January’s revised shipments of 1,689. February’s year to date shipments totaled 3.435 Bbf. February shipments are 3.4% below the year-to-date period in 2025, and 4.5 % below the year-to-date period in 2024.

We are pleased to welcome an outstanding organization to SFPA and to the broader Southern Pine community: South Carolina Forestry Commission. The continued growth of our membership reflects the strength and relevance of our industry, and we are proud to have this organization join us.

I encourage you to click their name to learn more about their work and industry contributions.

• South Carolina Forestry Commission

Welcome aboard — we’re so glad you’re here!

Across Appalachia, many former surface coal mines still sit barren, but the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative (ARRI) is working to change that. By restoring native forests and wildlife habitat, ARRI is turning these sites back into healthy landscapes. Each project begins by clearing invasive plants and improving soil conditions before native seedlings are carefully planted by hand. The results have been impressive, with strong survival rates and steady progress as these areas return to life.

Each spring, ARRI hosts volunteer tree planting events during Arbor Week and Earth Week. These events take place on mine sites throughout the region and offer a hands-on way for anyone to get involved. The program also works closely with partners like the White Oak Initiative and the Longleaf and Shortleaf Pine initiatives, creating lasting benefits for landowners, the environment, and the future timber supply.

Today, the effort is expanding to identify more former mine lands in need of restoration across eight states. With support from partners, ARRI connects landowners to funding opportunities and helps bring projects to life. The program also supports carbon goals and creates jobs for local residents and Veterans. To learn more or get involved, contact Cliff Drouet, Forester, at cdrouet@osmre.gov, or visit the ARRI website at www.osmre.gov/programs/arri.

SFPA’s Lumber Library offers a comprehensive collection of technical publications to support design‑build professionals, residential contractors, and DIY builders. Each resource provides the guidance needed to design and build confidently with Southern Pine.

Members can access free PDF downloads covering span tables, installation details, treatment guidance, and more. (Please note: Pocket Span Cards are no longer available in print.)

Explore the full library and keep your teams equipped with the latest technical information for successful Southern Pine projects.

Member News

Click on any of the headlines below to learn more

• From Momentum to Mainstream: The SLB 2025 Annual Report Is Now Available
• EUDR: What the Commission’s 4 May 2026 simplification package means for wood, state forests and non-EU operators
• Planning for Wildfires in Our Backyards
• Protect Property From Heavy Termite Swarms

Stay Tuned

Stay tuned for more exciting updates and information regarding EXPO 2027 and SFPA’s industry involvement. Connect with SFPA on social media for the latest insights.

SFPA is an equal-opportunity employer and provider. SFPA is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs, and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other applicable laws. SFPA is committed to making its electronic and information technologies accessible to individuals with disabilities by meeting or exceeding the requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794d), as amended in 1998.  If you require assistance or wish to report an issue related to the accessibility of any content on this website, email mail@sfpa.org. If applicable, please include the web address or URL and the specific problems you have encountered. It is the policy of the SFPA not to discriminate against any person who is limited in English proficiency (LEP). In accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Executive Order 13166, the Association will take reasonable steps to provide LEP persons meaningful access to its programs and activities. This commitment applies to all of the Association’s federally conducted programs and activities.