CANBERRA, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Australia's renewable forestry industry has reached new highs, with a record log harvest up 10 percent in 2016-17 to more than 33 million cubic meters.
In a statement released on Thursday, Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources Anne Ruston said exports of wood product exports had also reached record levels, up 11 percent on the previous year.
Ruston welcomed the latest forestry statistics from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences which showed that the annual sales and service income of forest product manufacturing industries was worth 18 billion U.S. dollars in 2015-16.
She said the direct value of the forestry industry to Australia's GDP was 6.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2015-16.
"More and more, we are seeing our forest products industries boosting the well-being of our regional towns and communities," Ruston said on Thursday.
"These statistics reflect confidence in the industry and confidence from our key export markets."
Ruston said hardwood and softwood commercial plantations produced a record 28.8 million cubic meters.
"Australia's total renewable wood and timber product exports have passed 3.5 billion Australian dollars (2.67 billion U.S. dollars) for the first time, up 11 percent."
"Government and industry are working hand-in-glove to ensure a successful and viable future for the forestry industry, regional communities and the more than 70,000 jobs that rely on it," the minister said.
Ruston said the government was providing 15.2 million U.S. dollars to support the implementation of the National Forestry Industry Plan and drive growth in the renewable timber and wood fiber industries.