B.C.’s largest forestry trade mission to Japan and South Korea strengthens partnerships in Asia

B.C.’s largest forestry trade mission to Asia brought together more than 60 delegates from government, First Nations, industry, and labour. Organized by Forestry Innovation Investment (FII) and Canada Wood, with support from BC Wood and the Wood Pellet Association of Canada, the mission aimed to strengthen business relationships, advance technical collaboration, and drive the development of strategic market segments for B.C. forest products. Led by B.C. Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar, the delegation traveled to Japan and South Korea.

Japan

The mission began in Tokyo with the Japan Market Strategy Review, where delegates charted the next chapter of B.C.–Japan forestry partnerships. Guided by extensive research from Canada Wood Japan, the group explored emerging opportunities in mid-rise and non-residential construction, discussed barriers and identified strategies to further solidify and expand market share. By aligning strategies, the delegation is helping ensure that Canada’s forest sector continues to meet Japan’s evolving needs, reinforcing a partnership built on trust, sustainability, and shared growth.

Over the next few days, delegates saw how B.C. wood continues to have a tangible impact on Japan’s construction market. This included site visits to pre-fabrication manufacturers, such as Mitsubishi Estate Wood Build in Chiba, where Canada Wood Japan’s high-capacity shear wall system enables taller, more complex wood structures while meeting stringent seismic standards. Other manufacturing facilities visited included Shinohara Shoten’s pre-cut factory and Xyence’s pressure-treating facility, where delegates saw B.C. wood continuing to support Japan’s housing market while advancing low-carbon, resilient construction methods. Beyond the factories, the delegation toured Mitsui Home’s Senzoku Ike mid-rise condominium, where B.C. wood is showcased in active construction. With four floors of Canadian S-P-F, Douglas-fir, and hemlock atop a reinforced concrete ground floor, the project highlights wood’s potential in urban multi-family development.

The Japan leg concluded with the Canada–Japan Wood Forum and a reception at the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo, bringing together over 200 industry leaders to celebrate partnerships and discuss future opportunities. During the event, four long-standing partners—Shinohara Shoten, architect Kiyoshi Kikuchi, Mitsubishi Estate Wood Build, and Fujita Corporation—were recognized with plaques for their decades of leadership in advancing Canadian forest products in Japan, honouring their contributions to innovation, market development, and sustainable wood construction.

South Korea

The South Korea segment began with a market strategy session focused on positioning  B.C. wood use in targeted market segments to address Korea’s green building and low-carbon construction policies. This was followed by a reception at the Canadian Embassy, bringing the Canadian delegation together with top Korean importers, distributors, and housing companies to further discuss market trends and explore potential partnerships.

Site visits across the country highlighted the range of applications where B.C. wood is supporting South Korea’s growing interest in wood-based construction. At Dujon Housing, Canadian S-P-F supports precision design, energy performance, and comfort in single-family homes. At Songsan Green City, Yunsung Housing demonstrated large-scale urban wood-frame construction that delivers energy efficiency, design flexibility, and low-carbon housing solutions. The delegation also toured modular and prefabricated construction facilities, including XiGEIST—currently producing hundreds of modular homes annually with plans to double capacity—and Younglim, where innovations such as modular TORY homes provide practical, affordable housing options.

Outcomes and future opportunities

Across Japan and South Korea, delegates engaged with more than 300 partners and customers, completed 20 site visits and meetings, and reinforced B.C.’s leadership in sustainable forest management and wood innovation, while highlighting the province’s high-quality forest products to key markets in Asia.

Four memoranda of understandings were signed during the mission:

• Canada Wood and the Japan 2×4 Home Builders Association, expanding collaboration in mid-rise and non-residential wood construction and opening new opportunities for B.C. lumber and value-added products.
• An MOU between Japan-based Wing Co. Ltd./ Mobitect, Centurion Lumber, Western Forest Products, and the First Nations Forestry Council, supporting affordable and flexible housing projects on Vancouver Island using locally sourced wood.
• A trilateral MOU between the Korea Land and Housing Research Institute, Canada Wood, and FII, promoting wood-based building in South Korea’s housing sector and supporting the country’s carbon-neutrality goals.

Together, these outcomes strengthened partnerships, advanced technical collaboration, and positioned B.C.’s forestry sector to meet growing demand for mid-rise, mass timber, and low-carbon housing solutions.