Associated British Ports (ABP) hopes to grow timber throughput levels at its Port of Cardiff as a result of a £1.1m investment in new facilities for Marshall Maritime Services (MMS).

The investment, which follows a 10-year agreement with shipping, stevedoring and forwarding company MMS, will include the replacement of a 1930s brick building with a new 5,000m2 warehouse at Queen Alexandra Dock to hold materials including forest products.

A further four-acre open area is earmarked for timber storage.

MMS already handles 100,000m3 of timber at the Port of Hull. The first timber contract for its new Cardiff operation is to handle imports for Brittons Timber but it is also in discussions with a number of other timber importers.

Nick Marshall, of MMS, said: “We have taken over a substantial part of Alexandra Dock at Cardiff and intend to replicate what we do at Hull.”

Mr Marshall hopes the company’s timber handling volumes will be in excess of 50,000m3 by this time next year.

&#8220We are trying to develop parcels of timber business and this is a positive development towards that end”

Clive Thomas, ABP deputy port director, South Wales Ports,

Its decision to set up an operation in South Wales will enable it to provide a comprehensive distribution network across the UK.

Clive Thomas, ABP deputy port director, South Wales Ports, said: “We are trying to develop parcels of timber business and this is a positive development towards that end.”

Timber throughput at Cardiff is expected to be about 120,000-150,000m3 this year and ABP is confident it will increase next year.

The new warehouse is due to be finished by next spring.