With the SC Forestry Commission preparing for this week’s Southern Forest Products Exports Conference, an opportunity to spotlight the industry’s regional economic impact, the state’s forestry business should count itself lucky. Estimates are Matthew’s economic hit will come in at about $100 million — similar to the damage caused by historic flooding in the Lowcountry a year ago.

Exports of forest products through the Port of Charleston have grown 250 percent since 2002, with China and India the top overseas customers. Paper and paperboard are, by far, the most popular products, accounting for more than half of wood-related exports by dollar value. There are several emerging sectors, such as wood furniture shipped to customers in Russia, prefabricated buildings sent to Pakistan and wood-based chemical products exported to South Korea.