Fletcher Building is now shipping its Golden Bay Cement directly out of Northport.
The port’s container lifting capability and new fortnightly coastal shipping service will improve efficiency in the transportation of cement powder from its plant in Portland, near Whangarei, to distribution hubs around the country.
Fletcher Building’s building products chief executive David Thomas says this will create “more direct business for Northland”.
The cement factory is working up to move about 11% of its overall production to the South Island since it started shipping out of Northport last September
Using Northland’s port to shift cement was made possible by a $30 million investment in the factory’s facilities, including a new silo capable of taking the necessary containers.
Prior to Portland having the Northport service, the cement was shipped directly to Auckland at its Eastport facility.
The Portland plant is New Zealand’s one and only cement factory and it marked centenary celebrations last year.
