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From the 1940s, timber and other wood products from the newly established pine plantations became available in increasing quantities. By the 1960s, plantation grown timber was providing most of the country's sawn timber needs, especially for construction. Today, less than 2% of timber is cut from indigenous forests, and almost all of that is used for higher value end-uses (furniture and fittings, etc).
As the radiata pine industry developed it became apparent that this wood was also well suited for many uses other than house framing. It makes excellent pulp and is widely used for posts and poles, lumber for construction, furnishings and mouldings, particleboard, and fibreboard, and for plywood and 'engineered' wood products. By-products are used in chemical and pharmaceutical industries and residues are consumed for fuel. The amazing versatility of radiata pine has encouraged the development of an integrated forest products industry which is almost unique in the world.
New Zealand's total planted forest harvest has increased over the last few decades, reaching 21 million m3 by 2004. About 66% of that is further processed in New Zealand, with the balance being exported as logs.
New Zealand's small population limits both the size of the domestic market and its growth. For the last few years local wood consumption has been around 4 million m3. Accordingly, export market development is the key to the industry's future growth and contribution to the national economy. |