(Photo: Linked In)
May 24, 2018
Australia’s annual timber harvest has reached a record level, according to figures released on Thursday by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES).
ABARES Executive Director Steve Hatfield-Dodds said the volume of logs harvested reached record levels in 2016–17, exceeding 33 million cubic metres and up 10 per cent on the year.
“In 2016–17, the value of total logs harvested was up 13 per cent to $2.6 billion, driven by a record hardwood and softwood commercial plantation harvest of 29 million cubic metres,” Dr Hatfield-Dodds said.
“Commercial plantation logs now comprise 87 per cent of Australia’s total log harvest, up 19 per cent over the decade.
“The volume of logs harvested from the hardwood plantation estate more than doubled since 2012-13, increasing to 11 million cubic metres in 2016–17 from 5 million cubic metres in 2012–13.
“Hardwood commercial plantations are grown predominantly for pulpwood to meet growing export demand for woodchip, which remain Australia’s largest wood product export by value.
“In 2016-17 exports were also at record highs, up 11 per cent on the back of strong volume growth in woodchip.
“Roundwood is up 17 per cent and paper paperboard up 10 per cent, with exports of both growing strongly since 2012–13.
“The record 2016–17 timber harvest was also supported by Australia’s wood processing industries.
“Softwood sawnwood output increased by 3 per cent, while production of wood-based panels and paper and paperboard grew more modestly.”
