Southwood Export
Southwood Export Limited was established in 1981 to process indigenous logs into chip for export to pulp and paper mills in Japan and China. With increasing constraints upon indigenous hardwood chip production, it converted to processing exclusively plantation grown timber, principally of eucalyptus and radiata pine.
The Company has been managing plantation forests since 1985, when it began establishing eucalyptus plantations to provide an alternative hardwood resource. All managed forest estates are located in Southland or South Otago and have a total current net stocked area of approximately 11,000 hectares.
The mill was established in 1981 and updated in 2010 and currently processes 350,000 GMT of logs annually. All wood chip is stockpiled and exported through the port of Bluff.
In July 2004, FSC® Chain of Custody certification was attained for its mill and port for both certified wood and non-certified controlled material.
The Company's forest management plan is to provide for high yielding crops on the most economic basis, whilst ensuring that in doing so there are no serious adverse effects on the environment. In 2017 SWEL also attained Forest Management Certification from PEFC (Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification).
The Company recognises that its operations have a significant influence on the wellbeing of local communities. To provide employment opportunities the Company will, as a general policy, advertise the bulk of its work on an open tender basis. As a responsible landowner and forest manager it will liaise with stakeholders to ensure that they are informed on any aspects of the Company's operation that could have a significant effect on them and to generally keep them informed of its intentions in their local area.
Core skills and project activities
- wood chipping process by own facilities
- wood chip supplying
- cargo loading at the Bluff port
- forest management
- FSC and PEFC certified
Links to capabilities and other information
Website: http://www.swel.co.nz/
Contact: Steve Hindley
By email: shindley@southwood.co.nz
By phone: 03 218 2073 | 027 430 1439
Company activities:
Wood chipping process by own facilities; Wood chip supplying; Cargo loading at the Bluff port; Forest Management; FSC and PEFC certified