Exotic Lumber Inc. has its origins in South Africa. Started by Bill van der Westhuizen in Durban in 1988, Country Woods Corporation (www.countrywoods.co.za) has grown into 4 branch locations totalling 65 000 sq ft of warehousing, over 1.15 million board feet inventory, dry kilns, millwork facilities and employing 80 people. When the van der Westhuizen family moved to Annapolis Maryland in 1994, Exotic Lumber was started and expanded in 2002 with the joining of partner Neil Gager. Exotic Lumber operates as a specialty lumber yard and has expanded into two operations servicing the Washington DC / Baltimore areas. We also ship lumber to customers throughout the United States, and with over 130 species in stock have one of the widest selections of lumber available on the East Coast.

Through its subsidiary, World Woods Inc, an export trading company, Exotic Lumber ships container loads of North and South American, European and South East Asian hardwoods to South Africa, for distribution to furniture makers, cabinetmakers, mill work shops, boat builders, contractors and deck builders and to a very active hobbyist woodworking community. Regular contact is kept between the South African and American businesses so that all 6 operations are constantly updated on changing trends within the industry.