SINO-FOREST ANNOUNCES NOTE OFFERING

This news release is not an offer to purchase or sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase or sell securities in the United States. The securities referred to herein have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Company does not intend to register any part of the offering in the United States or to conduct a public offering of securities in the United States.

Nothing in this announcement constitutes an offer of securities for sale in any jurisdiction where it is unlawful to do so.

TORONTO, Oct. 11, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Sino-Forest Corporation (TSX: TRE) (the "Company" or "Sino-Forest") today announced it has commenced an offering of guaranteed senior notes due 2017 with an intended offering size of US$500 million. The final size and other terms of the offering of notes, including the interest rate payable and the maturity date, will be determined after completion of marketing activities and is subject to prevailing market conditions. The offering is being made on a private placement basis in Canada, the United States and internationally pursuant to available exemptions, through a syndicate of initial purchasers. The Company intends to use the aggregate net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, including, but not limited to, the acquisition and replanting of tree plantations.

No assurance can be given that the Company will not terminate its marketing activities or alter the terms of the offering due to market conditions or otherwise.

About Sino-Forest Corporation

Sino-Forest is a leading, commercial forest plantation operator in China. Its principal businesses include the ownership and management of forest plantation trees and sales of standing timber, wood logs, and complementary manufacturing of downstream engineered-wood products. Sino-Forest also holds a majority interest in Omnicorp Limited (HK:0094), a Hong Kong listed investment holding company with hardwood concessions and harvesting rights in Suriname, South America. Sino-Forest's common shares have traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol TRE since 1995. Learn more at www.sinoforest.com.

Please note: This press release contains projections and forward-looking statements regarding future events. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance of the Company and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and company plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but not limited to, changes in China and international economies; changes in currency exchange rates; changes in worldwide demand for the Company's products; changes in worldwide production and production capacity in the forest products industry; competitive pricing pressures for the Company's products and changes in wood and timber costs.

This announcement is subject to offer and distribution restrictions in, among other countries, the United States, the People's Republic of China, the Republic of Italy, Belgium, Canada, the European Economic Area, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Singapore.

This announcement does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in any jurisdiction in or from which, or to any person to whom, it is unlawful to make such offer or invitation under applicable laws. The distribution of this announcement in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession this announcement comes are required by each of the Company and the dealer manager and solicitation agent to inform themselves about, and to observe, any such restrictions.

SOURCE Sino-Forest Corporation