Strong sawn timber sales helped New Zealand record a 2.4% rise in forest products exports during 2002, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
Sawn timber exports increased by 15.1% last year to NZ$925m, while the total forest product exports were valued at NZ$3.71bn, or 12.5% of the country’s total exports.
Log shipments rose 9.3% to NZ$773m but sales declines in pulp, paper and paperboard partially offset the increases.
Australia was the industry’s top overseas market, accounting for a 25.5% market share, followed by Japan (19%) and the US (15%).
