Jobs are on the line as New Zealand’s forestry sector struggles against the impacts of the coronavirus with log exports to China still on hold.
NZ Forest Owners Association (NZFOA) president Peter Weir say there is almost no off-take of logs in China for processing and the remaining log yard space at most ports is quickly disappearing.
It was hoped that business would return to normal after the extended Lunar New Year holiday finished in China two weeks ago but “that hasn’t happened”, Weir says.
“Many Chinese sawmills are yet to get back to work. New Zealand exporters have nowhere else to send the industrial grade logs they harvest.
“While New Zealand’s domestic sawmills usually take about 40% of the harvest, sawmills supplying the New Zealand housing market will only buy stiffer and higher quality sawlogs or knot-free logs from pruned trees for joinery. The upper logs from a pruned true often grade out as industrial logs, and these logs are exported.”
“In regions where there is no domestic sawmilling, many harvest contracting crews are being put on reduced hours or, worst case, stood down. Regrettably many of our contractors have little alternative but to lay-off skilled workers,” Weir says.
Log exports to China were worth $2.7 billion for the year to the end of December 2019.
Over the past three months very large volumes of European spruce salvaged from forests under attack by insects have been shipped into log markets in China.
Weir says this flood of salvaged logs is attributable to climate change with recent warm winters and longer summers.
“There would have been much less inventory pressure if these exports had not arrived in China, but the concern about coronavirus has happened at just the wrong time for New Zealand.”
“NZFOA members are doing what we can to retain our skilled labour force by sending better logs to domestic sawmills to make up for the shortfall from farm woodlots where logging has already ceased.
“We continue to invest in the silvicultural work, including pruning, thinning and preparing recently harvested land before replanting begins in May or June.”
“Most members will continue building safe forest roads and landings to be harvest ready when markets recover. But that may be some months.
“Many larger forest companies are assisting contractors with business management and financial advice.
“In Poverty Bay, we are delighted with the support we are receiving from local Federated Farmers who are looking for jobs to employ forest workers. Every few extra hours of income are most welcome,” he says.
Forest Owners Association is also working closely with Forestry New Zealand in trying to lessen the impact of the log supply situation.
“Our members are not looking for handouts, but we do want to work out equitable ways for working with the government to assist the various harvesting crews. They are ones who will need the help.
“We are mindful too that a substantial reduction in harvesting is likely to have a major and rapid supply chain effect here in New Zealand, with a large dedicated workforce in trucking and port loading which is also going to feel the impact,” Weir says.
