Australian Bureau of Statistics
Celebrating the International Year of Statistics 2013

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The advent of large-scale woodchipping operations in 1970-71 saw an increase in forest-based production. Whereas there had only been a couple of pulp mills chipping for wood production, there were now three major export chipping sites commencing operations - two on the Tamar River and one at Triabunna on the East Coast. These mills were equipped with a full range of wood handling, de-barking and chipping machinery, were situated at deepwater ports, utilising bulk-chip-handling conveyors and loading facilities for direct export to Japan.

Initial production of 828,600 tonnes (green weight) of woodchips in 1970-71 was derived from 771,500 cubic metres of bush logs coupled with 125,000 cubic metres of off-cuts processed by sawmilling establishments with small, end-of-line chippers.

By 1988-89, total production of woodchips had reached 4,260,500 tonnes. Following a decrease to 3,356,000 tonnes in 1991-92, production rose to 4,343,100 tonnes in 1994-95. A peak of 5,145,300 tonnes was reached in 1999-2000, the highest woodchip production on record.

WOODCHIP PRODUCTION(a), Tasmania - 1970-71 to 1999-2000