Record Export Of Timber Products

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30368, 18 February 1964, Page 14

Record Export Of Timber Products

(New Zealand. Press Association) WELLINGTON, February 17. Exports of forest based products reached a record of £10.9 million in 1963, the Minister of Forests (Mr Gerard) said today. It was an increase of 55 per cent on 1962, he said.

“The continued growth of this export trade is a noteworthy achievement,” he said.

“In 1953, when tne first pulp shipment left New Zealand, the value of forest products was £900,000. Since then the average increase has been 25. per cent a year,” said the Minister. Timber products again led New Zealand’s exports to Australia, accounting for £9.1 million, 53 per cent of the 1963 total of £17.1 million. The main factor was newsprint, exports, of which to Australia rose from 41,493 tons (£2,298,000) to 105,932 tons (£5,838,000). In terms of logs (round wood equivalent) this represented a rise from 5,1 million cubic feet to 12.8 million cubic feet.

Australia was again New Zealand’s principal customer for all forest based exports, taking 84 per cent of total exports.

Some 13 per cent, chiefly logs, went to Japan, South Korea and the Philippines, and 3 per cent to the Pacific. Log exports showed a small increase over 1962, rising from 111 million board feet to 116 million board feet. Sawn timber exports remained static at 32 million board feet worth £1,046,000, arid wood pulp dropped from 70,134 tons worth £2,834,000 in 1962 to 63,028 tons (£2,552,000) in 1963. Fibre board exports rose from 1,836,000 square feet in 1962 to 2,871,000 square feet in 1963. Since the start of the new trading year in January, several factors have appeared or the export scene that may influence trade this . year.

“Examples are an increase in tempo of building activity in Australia and the imposition of increased tariff duties on timber other than sawn radiata pine,” said Mr Gerard.