TPT US Limited expects this week to export its 100-millionth board-foot of timber through the Port of Tacoma.
The TPC Longview, laden with more than 35,000 logs, is scheduled to depart for China Friday from the Port’s West Hylebos Log Facility with the 100-millionth board-foot log on board.
A board-foot is 1 foot long, 1 foot wide and 1 inch thick. End to end, 100 million board-feet would stretch about three-quarters of the way around the world.
New Zealand-based TPT’s U.S. subsidiary began shipping logs through the Port’s facility on the Hylebos Waterway in June 2010. Logs from Washington forests are sorted and debarked at the facility, then loaded aboard ships for transport to Pacific Rim countries.
Year to date, log exports are up 195 percent at the Port.
The Pacific Northwest’s once-dying log export business surged again in 2010 after Russia imposed a tariff on wood exports, prompting China to look to the West for additional wood sources to help meet its economic growth and infrastructure project demands.
Efforts to rebuild Japan after its devastating earthquake and tsunami also are expected to increase demand for U.S. wood and other building materials.
TPT represents Boston-based Hancock Timber Resource Group, which develops and manages globally diversified timberland portfolios for public and corporate pension plans, high net-worth individuals, and foundations and endowments.
About TPT
Established in 1997 as an independent log exporting company, TPT is New Zealand’s longest serving non-corporate marketing, sales and distribution company supporting forest owners. TPT US Limited has served Tacoma since June 2010. The company also has offices in Inchon, Korea, and Shanghai, China. To learn more about TPT, visit www.tptforests.com. For more information about TPT, contact Jerry Ashby at 253-307-2604.
About the Port of Tacoma
The Port of Tacoma is an economic engine for South Puget Sound, with more than 43,000 family-wage jobs in Pierce County and 113,000 jobs across Washington state connected to Port activities. A major gateway to Asia and Alaska, the Port of Tacoma is among the largest container ports in North America. The Port is also a major center for bulk, breakbulk and project/heavy-lift cargoes, as well as automobiles and trucks.