From farm to fixed mill: plenty of choice and busy market

摘要

Other parts of the industry might be struggling, but right now the portable sawmill market is humming. While last year wasn't that flash for some suppliers, this year they're reporting keen interest and good sales in the local market, particularly following that annual promotional highpoint, the Mystery Creek Fieldays (see photos). Reasons for the resurgence of activity vary. For some a key factor is the proportionately high cost of reading and transportation for smaller woodlot operations, particularly given current log prices. It's more cost effective to mill logs close to the forest and transport lumber in smaller trucks, especially in areas such as Marlborough, where the suitability of roads for logging trucks is currently a hot issue. Lucas Mills distributor Arnold Koppens is one who says he's "really busy" and attributes much of the increased activity to contractors upgrading. He says many are so busy they're having trouble keeping up with demand, hence the need for greater production capacity. There are also signs of an increase in native logging as landowners "get their paperwork through" from MAP for sustainable management programmes. (He notes in passing that while rimu prices have increased around 40 percent in the past two years, hewould have expected even greater movement given the volumes taken out of production. Meanwhile there's growing appreciation of beech, and greater volumes coming onto the market.)