{"id":12252,"date":"2023-10-30T13:16:14","date_gmt":"2023-10-30T02:16:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/?p=12252"},"modified":"2024-10-21T20:27:31","modified_gmt":"2024-10-21T10:27:31","slug":"juken-nz-weighs-gisborne-mill-closure-over-weak-japan-demand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/juken-nz-weighs-gisborne-mill-closure-over-weak-japan-demand\/","title":{"rendered":"Juken NZ Weighs Gisborne Mill Closure Over Weak Japan Demand"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Soft demand for specialised wood products sold into the Japanese housing market and ageing mill facilities have led forest giant Juken to push to close its Gibsorne plant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The company is majority-owned by Japan’s largest wood manufacturer, Wood One, established in 1990, just four years before setting up in Gisborne. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It has been a significant player in New Zealand forest processing since the mid-1990s and has invested more than NZ $700m into wood processing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Late last week,<\/a> Juken advised 80 personnel at its 30-year-old mill, the largest employer in the region, that from November 17, 2023, it consider three future options for the mill’s future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These include ceasing production until new markets and products are found, putting the mill up for sale and stopping production until a new buyer can be found or closing the mill permanently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“On Wednesday, we advised the workforce at our Gisborne mill that we are currently looking at options for the mill’s future due to its ongoing financial difficulties and market conditions,” Juken New Zealand Managing Director Hiroyuki Kawado said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Unfortunately, demand for the mill’s products has declined over the past five years and is not expected to improve,” he said before adding, “The mill’s age also means it needs significant investment if it is to continue its effective production and safe operation.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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