ABP’S SEED TO GROW PORT OF HULL’S TIMBER TRADE

ABP’S SEED TO GROW PORT OF HULL’S TIMBER TRADE

Associated British Ports (ABP) is to invest £700,000 in new timber storage facilities at its Port of Hull, the UK’s leading softwood timber-trading port. The investment follows the signing of a new 15-year agreement with port customer North Sea Lumber (Sales) Ltd (NSL).

The investment will see the construction of a 4,300 sq m extension to the existing No.9 shed currently used by NSL, situated at the western end of the Port of Hull’s Alexandra Dock. The extra storage facilities will accommodate the increasing volumes of timber from Russia and the Baltic states, imported by NSL, which is anticipated over the coming months and years.

NSL has been a customer of ABP Hull since 2000, during which time it has seen constant growth in trade. In 2003, ABP invested £700,000 in the construction of the 6,300 sq m No.9 shed to enable NSL to expand its Humber operations and extend its range of operations to include the provision of value-added services. It is expected that construction work on the extension to the shed will start towards the end of August, and will become operational by the end of this year.

Matthew Kennerley, ABP Port Director for Hull & Goole, says that the investment is yet another important step forward for one the Port of Hull’s key trades:

“ABP Hull has long held the title of the UK’s largest timber-handling port and we are always keen to find new opportunities to consolidate our position. It is only through fostering strong commercial relations with companies such as NSL, that we are able to do this and remain the country’s pre-eminent hub for imported timber.”

Stephen Tomlinson, Managing Director of NSL, commented:

“The investment being made shows North Sea Lumber Sales Ltd’s further commitment to the Port of Hull. This will enable us to supply increasing volumes of quality softwood, primarily from Russia, to the timber trade on a national basis by ensuring that these goods are fully looked after in the enhanced undercover storage to which we are committing. This extra facility will also help us expand our environmental stocks of FSC and PEFC accredited softwood.”

In 2005, ABP Hull handled more than 1.5 million cu m of timber.

3rd August 2006

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