Papua New Guinea’s forestry sector has bounced back from the 2008/9 slump, and is looking to value-adding, together with sustainability and traceability practices, for its growth.
Sustainable forestry operations represent PNG’s future. Credit: Cloudy Bay Sustainable Forestry
Papua New Guinea has immense forestry operations, with some 29 forest concessions covering 3.5 million hectares. Eight-four percent of PNG’s landmass is covered by forest, and 5.7 million hectares of this are potentially production forests.
‘84% of PNG’s landmass is covered by forest, and 5.7 million hectares of this are potentially production forests’
While most of its timber-related export income comes from the export of round logs (95% of all timber-related exports in 2011), PNG does produce a range of forest products, including furniture, plywood and prefabricated buildings, for both domestic and export markets.
Processed timber products are exported to Australia, New Zealand and PNG’s South Pacific neighbours. Veneer is mainly sold to China and South Korea. Plantation products account for about 15% of exports.
Credit: Manufacturers Council of PNG
Industry bounces back
Exports of PNG timber rose sharply in 2010 and 2011, after suffering a definite slump during the global financial crisis of 2008/9.
The Bank of Papua New Guinea reported forestry exports worth 768 million kina (US$361 million) in 2011, with some 3.5 million cubic metres of tropical hardwood shipped overseas.
This marked a modest 3.3% rise in value on the previous year, but a massive 87% on 2009 figures. In 2011, the average export price for timber was 208 kina (US$97.86) per cubic metre, with prices in the first quarter of 2012 appearing to fall back somewhat.
Major contributor
In total, forestry contributes about seven per cent to PNG’s gross domestic product, plus millions of kina in taxes, landowner royalties, infrastructure development and work for more than 10,000 people. Most of PNG’s log exports go to eleven Asian countries: 89% to China, followed by Japan, Korea, India, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
Major industry participants
Malaysian-owned R H Group is the largest player in PNG’s forestry sector. Other major industry participants include Cloudy Bay Sustainable Forestry Ltd, Innovision (PNG) Ltd, Open Bay Timber Ltd, PNG Forest Products Ltd (manufacturers of Niu Homes), Pac-Rim Hardwoods (PNG) Ltd, Stettin Bay Lumber Co. Ltd and Turama Forest Ind. Ltd.
New policy promotes value-adding
Since January 2010, government policy has dictated that all newly-approved forest projects must contain a strong element of downstream processing. Producers already generate sawn timber, veneer sheets, plywood and processed timber exports, but these sectors will receive much greater emphasis.
Opportunities for expansion
Other opportunities for further expansion of PNG’s forest industry include: the increasing domestic demand for timber and wood products driven by PNG’s major new resources projects; establishing plantations; and forest enhancement under climate change protocols.
With five major producers already independently certified for legal origin and chain of custody, new export opportunities should arise in markets requiring third-party verification such as Australia, the USA and the European Union. The PNG Forest Authority plans to develop 240,000 hectares of commercially viable and sustainable forest plantations by 2030. Approximately 4000 hectares is expected to be contributed by private investors, including new entrants to the sector.
Furthermore, the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) is working with the PNG Forest Authority to enhance forest law enforcement. Under a two-year pilot project, it will develop a timber tracking system at two timber concessions, develop a legality standard and industry code of conduct, and develop a forestry monitoring module for local stakeholders. According to the ITTO, the project could lay the foundations for future initiatives such as a national timber inventory, carbon sequestration monitoring, and certification.
First published in Made in PNG 2012
USD 0.2475
AUD 0.3829
GBP 0.1953
EUR 0.2348
NZD 0.4224
JPY 38.74
SGD 0.3326
Kianing (Galek-Aing) Resource Holdings Limited is under going negotiation with relevant government authorities to obtain licence and permits to establish timber downstream processing business and needs foreign investor to partner with. Interested investor please contact me on the following;
Mr Gary Tau
Phone; 72571420
gmail; garydaikongu@gmail.com
Wewak. ESP
Hi All,
I am sourcing for Dark Red Meranti – and Red Meranti Timber Planks
sizes T 20mm x 145mm x 7 ft up to 12 ft ,
come with Processing, Profile with Grooves. horizotal 9 lines x grooves deep 1mm
For Export any seller please Email: idcboon@singnet.com.sg
Tony Pang
Hi Paul,
Did you manage to find a supplier? If not, please email alobuildconstructserv@gmail.com and we can discuss further. We have Kwila, rosewood, teakwood, taun & Opia trees.
Thanks,
Jonah
The companies and interested parties who are engaged in logging, receive an handsome amount of kina from the harvest of trees and exporting. My opinion and I would like
to stress, instead of exporting trees how about being engaged in industrialization. It is unfair to the locals that trees harvested on PNG land and the finish product is expensive in hardwares.
Hi Rick,
If you are interested to carry out logging projects, I have 79,970 hectares of virgin Forest yet to harvested and logged. I can be contacted on phone number +67579684372 or email nelsonsisa15@gmail.com
I look forward to hear from you soon.
Regards,
Nelson Sisa
Hi team interested buyers, we’re a locally based landowner company in Papua New Guinea. We have the necessary permits from PNG Forestry Authority, and have already paid the mandatory BOND FEE of K 20, 000.00 and are looking to secure overseas buyers. Please free to contact us if you are interested.
Stand Timber Limited
P O Box 1806
Waterfront Konedobu
National Capital District
Papua New Guinea
Ph +675 74248567
Dear sir we are interested to engage buyers overseas to buy your timber. Please confirm if you are willing to negotiate with us. Thanks
Kianing Galek Aing Resource Holdings Limited, a landowner company is interested in downstream processing (timber0 and is seeking foreign investor to partner with.
We are looking to find reliable suppliers who can supply to us with consistent quality on a regular basis
Kwila, Rosewood & Vitex Sawn Timber & Round logs
Please do not hesitate to contact us on our email : sdienizhar@gmail.com & Mobile : +62 81 392 170 390
Dear sir, we are interested to negotiate for exporting of sawn timber various species on regular basis. Please confirm if interested.
What are the licencing costs and certification requirments and regulations for new companys to commence logging in PNG for export of full log timbers overseas companies
Hi Rick,
Has someone replied to your query yet? if not send me an email on wasaabolimited@gmail.com
Hi Rick,
License cost is PGK 20,000. Have to apply for permit to harvest timber in Papua New Guinea.
I can help you to progress your requirements including securing of forestry project . I currently have more than 300,000 hectares of forestry with timber to be harvested
If still interested, please contact me on following contacts.
Email: lucas.r.michael@gmail.com
Phone (675) 7198 5561
Lucas Michael