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New Zealand Radiata Pine lumber and timber products
Overview
Sawn New Zealand Radiata Pine timber export volumes increased
from 1.3 million cubic metres for the year ended 31 March 2000
to 1.5 million cubic metres for the corresponding period in
2004. Total sawn timber exports including Radiata Pine,
Douglas Fir, other planted forest and natural forest species
increased from 1.4 millon cubic metres for the year ended 31
March 2000 to 1.6 million cubic metres for the corresponding
period in 2004. Precision sawing and drying practices of the New Zealand sawmilling industry ensure high standards of stability and dimensional integrity of finished timber products.
The sawmilling and further processing industries continue to
grow with the expansion of existing sites and the
establishment of new plants. Australia Vietnam The United States Thailand Japan Philippines China Korea Taiwan Hong Kong
Industry facts Total exports of New Zealand forestry products for the year ended 31 March 2004 (provisional) were NZ$3.1 billion including sawn timber NZ$683,546 million, logs and poles NZ$624,196 million, pulp and paperboard NZ$834,445 million, fibreboard NZ$223,496 million, plywood NZ$151,318 million, other panel products NZ$133,746 million, and other products $466,418 million.
For the year ended 31 March 2004 (provisional) exports of sawn
timber and manufactured products (shaped wood, wooden furniture
and furniture parts) amounted to NZ$836 million. Total
rough-sawn timber production for the year to 31 March 2003 was
4.4 million cubic metres. Many New Zealand lumber sawmills and
manufacturers have Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) “chain of
custody” accreditation, taking advantage of the large and
increasing area of accredited plantations and responding to
international market demand. Sawn lumber products exported
include rough sawn green and rough sawn kiln dried lumber in
set, custom and random widths. Many exporters offer preservative
treatment as an option for exterior applications. Depending on
destination markets, New Zealand sawmillers grade their timber
products according to New Zealand grading rules or those
appropriate to their customers. While most lumber is cut to
metric dimensions, many sawmills cut to USA sizes. Board lengths
range from 1.8m – 6.0m in 300mm increments. Mills typically
offer kiln dried lumber at 12% + 2% moisture content. Shipping
options include break bulk and containerised (40’ and 20’) as
appropriate to meet customer requirements. Quality assurance
programmes include Woodmark and NZ Dri. Significant products Sawn New Zealand Pine lumber New Zealand is a substantial supplier to the moulding and millwork sectors in the USA. It is a major supplier of structural and exterior lumber grades to Australia and has become a major supplier of appearance grades to various Asian nations, where much of it is converted into furniture and other manufactured timber products for export to the US, Europe and other markets. Manufactured timber products New Zealand is a major supplier of mouldings to the USA for a range of interior fit-out products and is developing a strong position with dressed boards to ‘do-it-yourself’ outlets. While New Zealand has a number of large scale lumber processing plants, particularly for the production of mouldings, most plants are of small to medium size and set up to produce products customised to individual buyers’ requirements. Timber products include: Feedstock for further manufacturing (blocks, finger joint blanks); Interior building products (blocks; finger joint blanks; finger joint mouldings; solid lineal mouldings; window, door and stair parts; wall panelling and flooring) Exterior building products (weatherboards; fascia; exterior door jambs; handrails; balustrades) Engineered wood products (glue laminated and LVL beams and structures) Furniture components and do-it-yourself products (solid and laminated squares; edge glued panels; cut-to-length components; dressed DIY boards). New Zealand Radiata Pine is particularly well suited as a raw material for these products because it has excellent turning, shaping and laminating properties and readily achieves excellent stain and paint finishes. Innovation Innovation and the widespread application of advanced silviculture technology over many years has placed New Zealand in an internationally unique position in its ability to supply long length clear Radiata Pine in wide board widths. The proportion of clearwood output from the industry is and will continue to increase steeply. The New Zealand lumber industry is therefore able to offer international buyers steadily increasing volumes of sawn lumber and remanufactured wood products which are highly suited to the exacting requirements of manufacturers of furniture, joinery and interior architecture products. The fact that these products are derived from fully sustainable and eco-friendly resources further enhances their appeal to buyers in or supplying to sophisticated markets in Europe, the US and elsewhere. New Zealand Forest Research and other research and development establishments in New Zealand have developed leading-edge advances in wood processing technology including in the areas of wood hardening and the production of bentwood products. Industry structure The New Zealand lumber sawmilling and solid wood processing industries are made up of numerous publicly listed and privately owed companies, all operating and trading as individual entities. There is a some co-operation between companies in product and market development and in servicing overseas customers. The New Zealand Timber Industry Federation and the New Zealand Pine Manufacturers’ Association represent saw millers and manufacturers respectively. The New Zealand Forest Industries Council also assists companies in these sectors.
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A Geographical
Insight into New Zealand |
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