Plantation eucalypt hardwood harvest up by 58%

The harvest of plantation Australian eucalypt hardwood rose significantly in 2004-05 according to ABARE's new Australian Forest and Wood Products Statistics report.

The harvest was measured by log removals, with produce used predominantly for woodchip exports.

Plantation eucalypt hardwood log removals increased by 58 per cent to 2.9 million cubic metres, due to increased harvesting of plantation timber.

This contributed to total roundwood log removals increasing slightly, by 1 per cent, to 27.4 million cubic metres in 2004-05.

However, eucalypt hardwood log removals from native forests fell by 4 per cent, to 10 million cubic metres.

The increase in plantation hardwood output comes as plantation managers such as Integrated Timber Cropping, Great Southern Plantations and Timbecorp continue to place a heavy emphasis on their timberlot plantation businesses.

ITC and Great Southern are both Western Australian-based and, along with Timbercorp, have significant tracts of land under management with bluegum timber in the state's south west and great southern regions.

The report was released by ABARE executive director Dr Brian Fisher, who said that the value of forest product exports fell in the September quarter 2005 by 13 per cent, but recovered in the December quarter by 9.5 per cent to $534 million.

"Following on from a record level of woodchip exports in 2004-05 of $858 million, woodchip exports fell in the September quarter by 21 per cent to $185.6 million from the June quarter, but recovered in the December quarter 2005 by 19 per cent to $220.6 million, mainly reflecting a rise in both the volume and a 2 per cent rise in the unit value of hardwood woodchip exports to Japan," Dr Fisher said.

The report also highlighted that the value of forest product imports rose by 8 per cent to $1 039 million in the September 2005 quarter, and fell by 3 per cent in the December 2005 quarter, to $1 013 million - a result that largely reflecting seasonal variation.

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Australian eucalypt hardwood plantation harvest rose in 2004-05
The Australian eucalypt hardwood plantation harvest (log removals), mainly for woodchip exports, increased significantly in 2004-05, according to a new ABARE report.
The report, Australian Forest and Wood Products Statistics, was released today by Dr Brian Fisher, Executive Director of ABARE.
Total roundwood log removals rose slightly by 1 per cent to 27.4 million cubic metres in 2004-05, with eucalypt hardwood log removals from native forests falling slightly, by 4 per cent to 10 million cubic metres.
'However, eucalypt hardwood plantation log removals increased by 58 per cent to 2.9 million cubic metres, due to an increase in harvesting of eucalypt plantations for woodchip exports,' Dr Fisher explained.
Dr Fisher noted 'that the value of forest product exports fell in the September quarter 2005 by 13 per cent, however recovered in the December quarter by 9.5 per cent to $534 million.'
'Following on from a record level of woodchip exports in 2004-05 of $858 million, woodchip exports fell in the September quarter by 21 per cent to $185.6 million from the June quarter, but recovered in the December quarter 2005 by 19 per cent to $220.6 million, mainly reflecting a rise in both the volume and a 2 per cent rise in the unit value of hardwood woodchip exports to Japan,' Dr Fisher said.
Sawnwood exports in both the September and December quarters 2005 remained just above $31 million, about 22 per cent higher than the corresponding quarters in 2004. 'The increase in sawnwood exports continues to be driven by an increase in the volume of lower valued coniferous sawnwood to Asian markets, particular China and Chinese Taipei,' Dr Fisher explained.
Dr Fisher also noted 'that the value of forest product imports rose by 8 per cent to $1 039 million in the September quarter 2005 and fell by 3 per cent in the December quarter 2005 to $1 013 million, largely reflecting seasonal variation.'
In releasing the report, Dr Fisher acknowledged the support of the Forest and Wood Products Research and Development Corporation.