Jun 09, 2005. /Lesprom Network/. China has become the largest destination of the hardwoods of the United States, said Theodore Rossi, chairman of the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) here on June 8 in a press conference. According to US statistics, in 2004 the value of US hardwood products exported to China's mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan reached 3.6 billion RMB yuan (approximately $500 million), representing a growth of 29.2% from 2003. In 2004, the annual construction value of China reached $200 billion, and the annual production value of the domestic furniture market was $24 billion, "thus creating bright prospects for US hardwoods to be utilized in interior decoration and furniture manufacturing," said Michael Snow, executive director of the council. The council predicted that by 2008 flooring demand in China will hit 2.5 billion square meters while the door and window market will hit 500 million units. "China's rapid economic growth and new housing privatization initiatives have created a new generation of increasingly affluent consumers who are eager to outfit their homes and work environment with quality interior furnishings made with US hardwoods," Snow said. "Driven by strong domestic and overseas market demand for Chinamade US hardwood products, China has been the world's leading US hardwoods importing country for three years in a row," said John Chan, Regional Director of AHEC Southeast Asia and Greater China.