1967 - Vanport Manufacturing, Inc. is formed with the purpose of manufacturing domestic lumber and exporting logs to Japan.

1975 - Vanport’s small log sawmill is remodeled to produce metric size lumber for the Japanese market from bigger logs.

1982 - A Japanese model home (Tea House) is built next to the Boring office to showcase all products produced at our mills. This “Tea House” has been the focal point of many international articles and provides us with essential marketing to this day.

1982 - Vanport is named “International Marketing Firm of the Year” by the Governor of Oregon.

1988 - Vanport becomes the 1st sawmill outside of Japan to receive the JAS (Japan Agricultural Standards) stamp of approval from the Japanese government. This gives our group’s lumber products instant credibility within the Japanese construction market.

1988 - Vanport starts marketing lumber for export to Japan from other US, Canadian and European sawmills, providing guidance in manufacturing, grading and marketing.

1994 - Vanport International is formed to better serve all of our partner mills with dedicated quality control, production, and marketing personnel. Today our staff includes 47 people worldwide. All have experience in logistics, manufacturing, and marketing. Our staff includes native speakers of Japanese, German, Chinese, Russian, and other languages.

1994 - Vanport establishes a presence in Russia. This operation has 12 people producing and marketing Red Pine Lumber products directly into the Asian markets.

1995 to 2003 - Vanport assists the Yakama Indian Nation to build a sawmill and train millworkers and management staff in the operation of the mill and in the marketing of lumber.

1995 - Vanport Canada is established to directly access logs and lumber for our Japanese customers.

2000 - Representation in China.

2008 - Warm Springs Forest Products becomes a part of the Vanport Group. Today this mill is actively managed by Vanport and employs 140 people. Monthly production is 4 million ft. with over 75% going to Japan and China.