Forestry exports up 2.4pc in 2002

By NZPA

Wednesday 12th March 2003

Forestry products now make up an eighth of the country's total exports, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said today.

For the year ending December forestry products worth $3.709 billion were exported from New Zealand, up 2.4 percent on the previous year.

MAF said the increase was steady but lower than previous years. The industry grew 3 percent in 2001, 30 percent in 2000 and 17 percent in 1999.

"Through the mid to late 1990s there was incredible growth in export value, and now it's just a little bit more modest" Judith Dennis, a senior MAF forestry analyst, said.

MAF is forecasting an 18 percent increase between March 2002 and 2006.

The 2002 increase was driven by exports of sawn timber, logs, fibreboard and continuously shaped wood products like mouldings.

Sawn timber rose 15.1 percent to $925 million, while log exports increased 9.3 percent ($773 million), and fibreboard, mostly MDF, was up 2.9 percent ($298 million). Mouldings and similar products increased by a whopping 31.1 percent ($113 million).

The rises were partially offset by falls in the value of pulp and paper or paperboard exports. Pulp prices fell 12.6 percent to $490 million, and paper and paperboard exports dropped an estimated 15.6 percent ($498 million) .

Australia was the leading market in 2002, taking 25.5 percent ($945 million).

Japan was the next biggest market worth $707 million or 19 percent market share), followed by the US ($570 million or 15 percent), Korea ($493 million or 13 percent) and China ($383 million or 10 percent).

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