Forestry
Harvesting of native jarrah and karri hardwoods was one of the first major industries in the South West Region. About half the State's forests are located in the South West.
The Forest Products Commission reported that in 2007/08 a total of 1,065,000 cubic metres of hardwood and softwood were logged at a value of A$73.9 million (delivered to the mill gate).
Hardwood
Hardwood production in 2007/08 was 416,000 cubic metres and valued at $36.3 million (delivered to the mill gate). This represented 49 per cent of the South West Region's value of logging production.
The volume of hardwood production in the South West has decreased from its 2001/02 level with the implementation of the Regional Forest Agreement.
With this reduction in harvested native jarrah future processing of hardwood has concentrated on value adding, including additional seasoning facilities, new milling equipment and a laminated flooring project. Other opportunities are expected to come in the fibreboard industries, investment in farm forestry, planting of specialist timbers (black walnut and mountain ash), processing of waste wood (including energy production), off-cuts and fine wood furniture and crafts.
Hardwood products from the region are exported to Japan, New Zealand, USA, Europe and Malaysia. Quantities are also shipped to the eastern states of Australia.
Plantations
During the 1970s an export woodchip industry supplying woodchips to paper pulp manufacturers was established. The industry is entering a new stage with plantation hardwoods beginning to contribute to the woodchip supply. Larger scale plantations of blue gums are being developed to supply markets in Japan. The total volume of South West blue gum woodchips exported through the Port of Bunbury reached 1.35 million tonnes in 2007/08.
Softwood
Softwood production in the South West in 2007/08 was 649,000 cubic metres and valued at $37.6 million, a slight decrease in volume compared to the previous year. In 2007/08, softwood production represented 51 per cent of the region's logging value.
One of the largest integrated softwood milling and processing plants in Australia is located in Dardanup. The complex produces sawn pine timber and a range of reconstituted wood-based panels, including melamine faced panels, structural flooring and wet and dry flooring. The particle board produced at the mill is used in construction and furniture manufacture in Western Australia with the remainder going to the eastern states and Asian markets.
Note: the value of particle board production is included under manufacturing.