Since 1990 Marlborough's annual harvest has increased from under 100,000 cubic metres to between 6-700,000 cubic metres per annum. Wood availability forecasts prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in 2006 indicate that over the next 10 years the harvest in Marlborough has the potential to increase the harvest to between 900 000 and one million cubic metres. 

Marlborough Forest Harvest

Estimating the level of harvest in Marlborough is becomming more difficult as wood from the multitude of small forest owners matures. Data from the forest industry indicate that between 750 and 850 000 cubic metres were harvested in 2006.

The actual level of harvest will however be determined by the market conditions over this period and the decisions of a large number of smaller-sized forest growers.

A copy of the publication “Nelson/Marlborough Forest Industry and Wood availability Forecasts” can be viewed at: http://www.maf.govt.nz/statistics/primaryindustries/
forestry/forest-resources/wood-supply-forecasts-2006/index.htm

Data from forest growers (year ending December 2005) show that 45 percent of the harvest was processed into sawn timber, laminated veneer lumber, posts and poles and wood chips for Medium Density Fibre Board. The remaining 55 percent was exported as logs. There is potential to increase the level of processing above 50 percent as the harvest increases and the processing infrastructure expands.