The countries in the Middle East and Northern Africa, the MENA region, have become a major destination for European softwood lumber since mid-2000. In fact, over ten percent of world trade of softwood lumber in 2015 was destined for the MENA region. Import volumes to MENA increased virtually every year over the ten-year period leading up to the Egyptian Revolution in 2013, when shipments to Egypt fell by 15%. When the political situation stabilized in Egypt, practically all countries in the region expanded their importation of lumber.
From 2013 to 2015, total import volumes to the MENA region were up 26%, reaching over 11 million m3 in 2015,