Forestry Corporation met with representatives from Ryonier Matariki Forests Limited NZ and Shanghai branches, representatives from MSC Shipping and representative from some of its Chinese customers, including the first customer in China and largest customer in China to mark the dispatch of its 5000th container for export, build relationships and discuss new opportunities.
Five thousand 40-foot containers of radiata pine logs have been shipped to global markets from the State forest plantations around Walcha and Nundle over the past 18 months. Source: Timberbiz
Forestry Corporation’s Walcha District Manager, Gary Miller, said more than 150,000 tonnes of timber had now been shipped to international markets, with the export operation growing year on year.
“We looked to the international market after our local customers decided to close a couple of years ago and we’ve now loaded our 5,000th container of locally-grown radiata pine onto the train at Newcastle for export,” Mr Miller said.
“Over the past eighteen months we’ve exported 150,000 tonnes of radiata pine logs from the plantations around Walcha and Nundle and we are currently shipping out about 60 containers of locally-grown pine every week.
“We’ve really ramped up local operations in line with the increase in exports, which has kept harvesting crews and haulage contractors busy and created a steady stream of seasonal work as we replant harvested plantations in the local area.
“Timber from our region’s State forests is in demand because it’s good quality and certified sustainable, so we’re expecting to keep these local crews and contractors busy for quite some time.”
