Exporting more than 259,000 tonne of logs in February was not only a best yet record for Eastland Port, the volume was almost as much as an entire year’s throughput a decade ago.
In February 259,081 tonnes of logs and 5,580 tonnes of squash were handled by the port, a total cargo of 264,608 tonnes.
“That’s our best month yet,” says Eastland Port general manager, Andrew Gaddum. “This log volume is only 54,000 shy of the entire year’s volume in 2006.”
Gaddum says 13 log ships, two squash vessels and four cruise ships visited during February.
“We’ve certainly been very busy, especially when it was only a 29 day month. And March is shaping up to be another good month too,” he says.
“Our busiest previous month was October 2015 when 232,000 tonnes crossed the port. August last year was also busy, with 234,000 tonnes,” says Gaddums.
“We’ve worked with our customers and suppliers to introduce systems and processes that make sure we’re moving logs as efficiently as possible. Every single log is barcoded and scanned in and out, and an individual log stays an average of just eight days on the port.”
Eastland Group bought the port from Gisborne District Council in 2003 and has steadily grown export volumes – mostly raw logs – from 480,000 tonnes in 2003 to a record 2.8 million tonnes in 2014.
Group chief executive, Matt Todd, says the company has spent around $75 million on capital enhancements since 2010 and plans to invest just as significantly over the next five years to accommodate customer projections for forestry harvest.
Recently completed projects include the $11 million upper log yard redevelopment and introducing a new water treatment system.
