NZ forestry production and trade information outFriday 17 Jul 2009 As expected, it's not good reading. During the March 2009 quarter production levels of all stage one wood processing in New Zealand declined compared with the same quarter last year. With the exception of particleboard and wood pulp, export volumes decreased in the March 2009 quarter, compared with the same quarter in the previous year. In contrast, a favourable exchange rate and lower sea freight costs meant that export earnings from all forest products increased.And some of the figures from the last quarter; round-wood removals over the March 2009 quarter declined 8.3 percent to 4.3 million cubic metres compared with the December 2008 quarter. This is the lowest level of harvesting since March 2006. Total log export volumes were 1.6 million cubic metres, down 12.7 percent compared with the previous quarter. Sawn timber production continued to decline over the March 2009 quarter, falling 3.4 percent to 790 000 cubic metres compared with the December 2008 quarter. This is the lowest production has been since the December 1998 quarter. Over the March 2009 quarter, total production of fibreboard, veneer, plywood and particleboard fell 17.2 percent to 332 000 cubic metres compared with the December 2008 quarter. This is the lowest quarterly total panel production volume since March 1999. That's enough of the bad news. For the full analysis, the March 2009 Quarterly Forestry Production and Trade Statistical Release can be seen by visiting the MAF website |
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