In June 2019, exports of logs and wood led the rise in New Zealand’s exports, up 16% or $43.5 million (NZ$65 million) from June 2018 to $316.1 million (NZ$472 million) in June 2019. These commodities are the third-largest goods export group, behind milk powder, butter, and cheese (NZ$1.1 billion) and meat and edible offal (NZ$678 million).
The rise in logs and wood was led by untreated logs, up 20% or $36.8 million (NZ$55 million) on a year earlier. The quantity rose 26% and unit values fell 4.6%.
“The average value of untreated log exports fell to $109 (NZ$163) per m3 in June, down from a recent high of $119 (NZ$177) in February,” international statistics manager Geraldine Duoba said.
New Zealand exports of untreated logs to China were worth about $2 billion (NZ$3.0 billion) in the past year, or 80% of the $2.54 billion (NZ$3.8 billion) in total untreated log exports.
