Foxborough, Mass. – International Forest Products (IFP), a subsidiary of The Kraft Group headquartered in Foxborough, Mass., is ranked first among New England businesses and 27th nationwide on the 2012 list of the Top 100 U.S. Exporters published by The Journal of Commerce. The top-30 ranking, based on 2011 exports, is IFP’s highest ranking since its first appearance on the annual list in 1997.
“We are incredibly proud of our continued growth, which has now made us the top exporter in New England,” said Daniel Kraft, President and Chief Executive Officer of International Forest Products. “This success is a testament to the many talented IFP employees across the world and our loyal network of global supply chain partners.”
IFP, a forest products and commodities trader, earned the 27th ranking by exporting 43,100 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2011. TEUs are a standard measurement of containerized ocean shipping.
The Journal of Commerce article notes that U.S. exports in 2011 surged 6 percent year-over-year, representing a 5 percent increase over pre-recession 2008 figures. IFP’s growth significantly outperformed the U.S. average. The 43,100 TEUs exported in 2011 represent a 22 percent increase over IFP’s 2010 exports (35,300 TEUs) and a 53 percent increase over 2008 (28,100 TEUs).
IFP has appeared on the Top 100 U.S. Exporters list every year since 1997, and has ranked in the top 50 each year since 2004. The Top 100 rankings are based on data from PIERS, a Journal of Commerce sister company, and other industry sources.