Forest Products Industry

Following significant engagement over the last month, the first in-person round of negotiations towards a comprehensive India New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will take place in India this week. Source: Timberbiz This follows the successful visit to India last year by Deputy Prime Minister, Winston Peters and the formal launch of negotiations by Minster for Trade and Investment, Todd McClay and Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal during the Prime Minister’s large trade mission to New Delhi in April. “This is an important step in our trade relationship with India and signals the two Governments’ intent to deliver a high-quality outcome that benefits both countries,” Mr McClay said. “With a population of 1.4 billion and a GDP estimated to grow to US$5.2 trillion by 2030, India offers significant opportunity for New Zealand exporters. “Strengthening ties with India across the board is a key part of the Government’s broader strategy to diversify and grow New Zealand’s export markets and double trade by value in 10 years. In March New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon kickstarted free trade negotiations with India after talks in earlier years had stalled.  Mr Luxon had promised that New Zealand would sign a free trade agreement with India during its first term in office. The New Zealand Timber Industry Federation and Export NZ made submissions to support the proposed trade deal.

Australia’s forest products industries have congratulated the re-elected Albanese Government and all members and senators of the new 48th Parliament who they will work with to achieve improved sector-wide outcomes. Source: Timberbiz “We congratulate Prime Minister Albanese on Labor’s election victory and increased majority, and we’ll now get down to business working with the new Government on a range of issues impacting forestry and the supply chain,” Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA), Diana Hallam said. “We also welcome all the new and re-elected MPs and senators of the new 48th Parliament and will continue our tradition of advocacy with them. “We are eager to get straight to business with the new Government on policies announced during the campaign including the new ReMade in Australia brand and housing sector initiatives, and the soon-to-be-released Timber Fibre Strategy developed during the first term of Government by the Strategic Forest and Renewable Materials Partnership. “Our sector faces many challenges, from long-term timber and wood-fibre supply to immediate construction market issues, ensuring we have a skilled workforce geared to needs, illegal imports, social licence to operate and making sure Australians understand the importance of what the sector does. AFPA will continue lead advocacy for the supply chain, addressing these issues in Canberra,” Ms Hallam said. “We thank the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Julie Collins, along with Shadow Minister for the Environment, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Jonno Duniam, for their ongoing support and all other parliamentarians who represent our industries across the Parliament. “Forestry and the supply chain directly employs 80,000 Australians, indirectly another 100,000 and creates essential products for our everyday lives, while fighting climate change. AFPA will ensure it gets the attention the sector deserves in Canberra,” she said. The Australian Forest Contractor’s Association also congratulated the Australian Labor Party led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for winning the Federal Election. “Congratulations to Prime Minister Albanese and his team for this election result,” AFCA CEO Tim Lester said. “During the campaign we welcomed a commitment from Forestry Minister Julie Collins who wrote to us stating that the Prime Minister and the Minister were strong advocates for plantation and native forestry sectors. “She confirmed that the Government’s position on native forestry is unchanged and that ‘An Albanese Government will never walk away from timber workers and communities’,” Mr Lester said. “Forestry services businesses are generally small, multi-generational family businesses providing specialist equipment and skills to ensure the supply of timber and wood fibre to processing and export facilities. Security of contracts, viability of arrangements and surety for resource availability are all critical for long term business success. “These businesses are the employers of an essential workforce who have high quality jobs in rural and regional Australia. The World Bank says forestry industries have an economic impact two and a half times the amount of money directly generated. A strong forestry sector means more local economic activity, which means stronger communities. “The alternative is exporting our jobs, importing more timber and Australian taxpayers spending more to manage our forests. “There is a lot of misinformation circulating so we would like to extend an invitation to all Parliamentarians to come and see how our forests are managed particularly through harvesting and regeneration. “We look forward to working with the Labor government to promote certainty and security for forestry services businesses who are providing the foundation for Australia’s $24 billion forest products sector,” Mr Lester said.  

The Hyne Group has announced as expansion of its Pallets division with the acquisition of Pallet & Bin Pty Ltd located in Shepparton, Victoria. Source: Timberbiz Pallet & Bin manufactures a range of products for some of Australia’s largest food producers, including a significant amount for the export markets. Hyne Group CEO Jim Bindon said Pallet & Bin was a well-regarded, local business that had been operating for more than 20 years and was a significant supplier for freighting food, “Clients include five of Australia’s largest food producers and this offers further diversity opportunities for our national pallet customer base,” he said. “Shepparton is also strategically located between Hyne Timber’s Tumbarumba sawmill and key Melbourne metropolitan markets, offering some solid locational synergies for both raw material timber supply and freight efficiencies.” This announcement follows the Group’s expansion in 2024 of its pallet manufacturing divisions through the acquisition of Rodpak Pallets & Packaging (VIC), Express Pallets & Crates (QLD) and Pinetec Pty (WA). The Group also expanded its Australian Garden Care division last year with the acquisition, through its Rocky Point Pty Ltd subsidiary, of Bassett Barks on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. In parallel, the Hyne Group’s majority owners in the UK, James Jones and Sons Ltd, has announced the acquisition of United Box Ltd. United Box Ltd was originally formed as a joint venture in 2003 by James Jones & Sons Ltd and Scott Group Ltd. United Box manufactures and distributes agricultural boxes and is a valued supplier to the food industry across the UK and Ireland. “Our recent acquisitions, combined with a progressive investment philosophy, are part of our disciplined global strategy and these two additions to our Group demonstrates our strong support of the rural and farming communities in the UK and Australia,” Tom Bruce-Jones, Chairman of James Jones & Sons Group, said. “This broadens our product portfolio and provides confidence to all our end users of our vertically integrated local supply chains, particularly given the current global trade war.”