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Forestry and Logging in New Zealand - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Andrew Ledovskikh Andrew Ledovskikh Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: July 2024 ANZSIC A0300NZ

Revenue

$6.6bn

2024-25

$6.6bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

4,881

Businesses

3,221

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Forestry and Logging in New Zealand industry analysis

Operators in the Forestry and Logging industry have faced a difficult operating environment as post-pandemic economic uncertainty domestically and overseas has limited timber prices, pushed up input costs and created volatility in export demand. Weakness in the Chinese construction sector has particularly weakened export sales. Downstream wood product manufacturers have struggled with rising wage and input costs, while new housing consents have fallen as interest rates have risen sharply in recent years. Slowdowns in downstream industries contributed to revenue declining by an anticipated annualised 3.0% over the five years through 2024-25, to reach an estimated $6.6 billion. Rising input costs have also led to a slight decline in profit margins. However, revenue is expected to grow by a modest 0.6% in 2024-25 as forestry firms clear some inventory built up in 2023-24 due to weak export demand.

Trends and Insights

  • Domestic demand conditions have been challenging for forestry and logging operators. Firms have faced a slowdown in wood product manufacturing and housing construction activity at the same time.
  • Weakening domestic demand has increased export markets’ importance. Forestry and logging firms are generating a larger share of sales from export markets as domestic wood product and paper manufacturing and housing construction activity are weakening.
  • The central North Island area has the largest concentration of forestry and logging companies. The area accounts for the largest share of forest plantations in New Zealand and is a hub for sawmillers and other wood processors.
  • Forestry and logging firms are increasingly relying on export markets to generate revenue. The domestic supply of timber far exceeds domestic demand, and wood product manufacturing is in long-term decline, forcing firms to export timber.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 3.0 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $6.6bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Downstream domestic markets are weakening

  • Demand for forestry and logging firms from downstream domestic markets has been declining over the past five years. Wood product manufacturing was negatively affected first by the pandemic and then by soaring costs and economic uncertainty over the four years through 2024-25, reducing activity and demand for timber.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Forestry and Logging in New Zealand
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Investment in automation and AI is forecast to reduce employment

  • Forestry and logging firms have been steadily investing in automation, AI and drone technology over the past few years. This trend is set to continue, with automated logging equipment and autonomous logging vehicles becoming increasingly common.

Biggest companies in the Forestry and Logging in New Zealand

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue ($m)
2025
Kaingaroa Timberlands
647.5
Matariki Forestry
356.9
Oregon
354.9

To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Forestry and Logging in New Zealand
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Radiata pine logs, Logging services and Other logs. Radiata pine logs is the largest segment of the Forestry and Logging in New Zealand.

Trends and Insights

A slow decline in radiata pine log harvest rates is reducing sales

  • Radiata pine logs make up most of the industry’s output. Radiata pine was introduced to New Zealand in the 1800s. Although the species is native to California, United States, it grows faster in New Zealand. Radiata pines comprise approximately 90% of the area of domestic plantation forests.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Industry firms own and operate log forestry plantations, or provide contract logging services for forestry owners. Industry players also hew and shape logs at logging sites. Forestry support services such as pest management are excluded from the industry.

What's included in this industry?

Logging servicesRadiata pine logsResiduesDouglas firsEucalyptusCypressOther exotic hardwoods and softwoods

Companies

Kaingaroa TimberlandsMatariki ForestryOregon

Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

INDIGENOUS FORESTRYHEWINGIWITHINNING

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 0301 - Forestry and Logging in New Zealand

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Domestic demand conditions have been challenging for forestry and logging operators. Firms have faced a slowdown in wood product manufacturing and housing construction activi...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Weakening domestic demand has increased export markets’ importance. Forestry and logging firms are generating a larger share of sales from export markets as domestic wood pro...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The central North Island area has the largest concentration of forestry and logging companies. The area accounts for the largest share of forest plantations in New Zealand an...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Forestry and logging firms are increasingly relying on export markets to generate revenue. The domestic supply of timber far exceeds domestic demand, and wood product manufac...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Export markets are becoming increasingly vital sources of revenue for forestry and logging companies. Weakening single-dwelling housing construction activity and declining wo...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Kaingaroa Timberlands's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Matariki Forestry's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Oregon's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Kaingaroa Timberlands, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Matariki Forestry, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Oregon, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Timber prices have stagnated, limiting revenue volatility. Relatively steady harvesting activity, combined with stable timber pricing kept revenue volatility at a moderate le...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Falling revenue hasn’t reduced employment as harvest rates have increased. Firms have needed to maintain their labour force to meet harvesting requirements, which has increas...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Forestry and Logging industry in New Zealand in 2024?

The market size of the Forestry and Logging industry in New Zealand is $6.6bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Forestry and Logging in New Zealand industry in 2024?

There are 3,221 businesses in the Forestry and Logging industry in New Zealand, which has declined at a CAGR of 4.0 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Forestry and Logging industry in New Zealand grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Forestry and Logging industry in New Zealand has been declining at a CAGR of 3.0 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Forestry and Logging industry in New Zealand over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Forestry and Logging industry in New Zealand is expected to decline.

What are the biggest companies in the Forestry and Logging market in New Zealand?

The biggest companies operating in the Forestry and Logging market in New Zealand are Kaingaroa Timberlands, Matariki Forestry and Oregon

What does the Forestry and Logging in New Zealand include?

Logging services and Radiata pine logs are part of the Forestry and Logging industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Forestry and Logging in New Zealand?

The company holding the most market share in New Zealand is Kaingaroa Timberlands.

How competitive is the Forestry and Logging industry in New Zealand?

The level of competition is low and increasing in the Forestry and Logging industry in New Zealand.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • There are no industries to display.

Complementors

  • Forestry Support Services in New Zealand
  • Log Sawmilling in New Zealand
  • Wood Chipping in New Zealand
  • Timber Resawing and Dressing in New Zealand

International industries

  • Logging in the US
  • Logging in Canada
  • Forestry and Logging in Australia
  • Forestry & Logging in the UK
  • Logging in China

View all industries in New Zealand

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in New Zealand include:

  • Statistics New Zealand
  • New Zealand Company Register
  • Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.