6.0 Forestry
The forest industry continues to play an important role in the economy. Provisional export value for forestry for the year to March 2003 was $3.71 billion, up 1.6% from the previous year.
This highlights a problem the industry shares with other New Zealand exporters, namely the strength of the NZD. Export volumes in all forestry categories are strong, with estimated results to March 2003 showing logs up 9.5%, lumber up 13%, pulp and paper holding steady and wood panels up 16%.
Weakness in the US lumber market is a further complicating factor, with the framing lumber composite price in early March 2003 showing an 18% fall against 12 months previously.
Contact for further information:
John Eyre
Phone: (04) 498 9827
Email: john.eyre@maf.govt.nz
