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CHH Makes New MDF Buy
¡¾2002.12.13¡¿

Carter Holt Harvey has strengthened its position as a leading wood panels exporter to Asia with the purchase this week of Starwood Australia¡¯s Bell Bay MDF plant in Tasmania for $A50m.

The company¡¯s MDF exports to Asia have grown by 60% over the last twelve months to 270,000m3 per annum. Bell Bay delivers an additional 180,000m3, increasing the company¡¯s total MDF capacity by 36%. Carter Holt Harvey¡¯s other MDF facilities are in Oberon, NSW and Rangiora, New Zealand. The Bell Bay facility was built in 1998 as a greenfields investment and employs 112 staff. It will enable Carter Holt Harvey to produce ¡®thick¡¯ board closer to markets in Australia¡¯s southern states, freeing up capacity at the Oberon and Rangiora facilities to increase production of high value ¡®thin¡¯ MDF - most of which will be destined for Asian markets.

Source:NZFORESTRY