Wood firms want trade action

26 January 2018

Wood companies are lobbying the Government for a more favourable trading environment as processors such as Juken New Zealand eye drastic measures in the face of subsidised foreign competition.

CPTPP: The deal is on

24 January 2018

Business leaders say the new Comprehenisive and Progressive Agreement for the Trans-Pacific Partnership is immensely worthwhile.

The agreement has been finalised at a meeting of trade ministers in Japan and could be signed in Chile on March 8.

Regional growth fund may ease trouble at mill

24 January 2018

Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones hasn’t ruled out using the Government’s new provincial growth fund in Gisborne after Juken New Zealand announced rationalisation plans that could halve the workforce at its Matawhero mill.

Axe hovers over Gisborne wood processor

23 January 2018

Juken New Zealand, a unit of Japan’s WoodOne Ltd, is consulting workers at its Gisborne wood-processing mill on a plan that may see it halve the mill’s workforce as it struggles to return to profitability in a highly competitive market.

Greenheart plays down reliance on Chinese

23 January 2018

Mangakahia forest owner Greenheart Group is playing down concerns its sales are too concentrated with two Chinese customers, saying it’s taking steps to reduce that reliance. 

Tauranga port shifting good volumes of PKE, logs

22 January 2018

First NZ Capital analysts are optimistic Port of Tauranga’s trading activity will get a boost from log exports and imports of palm kernel, although they’re still wary of the transport hub’s earnings outlook. 

Forestry sector ends year on song

21 December 2017

All factors influencing wharfgate prices have been positive for log exporters over the past month, ending a year where returns have outperformed expectations.

Foreign forest investment welcome

29 November 2017

The forestry sector will have unique access to overseas investment to boost the Government’s tree planting programme and encourage domestic processing.

Scion forestry innovation bearing fruit

28 November 2017

Scion, the forestry crown research institute, is reinventing the toilet, turning rubber into roads, and has created a new version of Zespri’s spoon-knife as it seeks to increase the value and productivity of the forestry sector.

Super Fund likes logs

27 November 2017

The New Zealand Superannuation Fund says it is upbeat about the outlook for logs from Kaingaroa Timberlands after the company that owns the nation’s largest contiguous forest lifted annual sales by a third and profit by 79%.