abt. 800 voyages carrying forest products per year
Abt. 2.500.000 tonnes forest products per year
About 30% over total voyages is related to the forest industry
Worldwide trade of forest products
The forest sector includes all economic activities that generally depend on the production of goods from forests. It encompasses forest production, processing, manufacturing and use. The industry can generally be divided into three sections: bio-energy (fuels), sawlogs (construction materials) and pulpwood (pulp & paper for newsprint, packaging, hygiene, etc).
The paper and forest-products industry as a whole is growing; only newsprint shows a decline because of digitalization. The industry is highly competitive. This requires that producers are cost-efficient in their supply chain, providing low-cost stock materials in order to make competitive products.
Royal Wagenborg knows the market since 1898 and has grown together with many major forest companies. Wagenborg operates 170+ suitable vessels for shipping forest products managed by competent crews who are familiar with this cargo for many years. To load forest products in a safe and efficient way, Wagenborg's in-house cargo superintendents developed innovative loading methods and equipment. This does not only save time and thus money; it also reduces the risk of damages significantly. Cargo superintendents are often on location to guide the cargo handling to maintain the company’s known high standards.
Because we know the industry, we can offer help to improve logistics processes and cost-saving initiatives with our customer. Who considers us as an added value, will save costs in their supply chain. It is important for our customers that their product arrives on time and undamaged at their customers. With a suitable fleet, innovative loading methods and competent crews, Wagenborg has one of the lowest damage rates of the industry.
"Wagenborg is shipping about 300.000 tonnes of paper from various ports in North America to Europe, the Mediterranean and de Carib. With this volume Wagenborg is one of Resolutes largest logistic suppliers and an important part of our logistic chain”
Don Walton
Manager North America and International Logistics Operations
Wagenborg has a relatively young fleet of avg. 14 years resulting in quality, well- maintained and clean vessels for a vulnerable type of cargo. Our people have the commitment to "make the best of it for the customer". In maritime services, in which the weather and other unpredictable factors play a major role, this mentality is of great value for our customers. Because of their geographical location, many of our forest customers need ice-class ships that can also perform in the winter.
“In 2001, Wagenborg and Smurfit Kappa agreed on the new building of two dedicated ice-strengthened roll-on/roll-off carriers (Ro-Ro) to transport paper for Smurfit Kappa from Sweden to the UK, Germany and The Netherlands.”
Sture Öberg - Logistics director Smurfit Kappa
It is expected that the forest industry will keep on growing. Especially when the economy keeps growing, building of houses and building of other constructions will need forest products. In addition, more countries are becoming well developed. This implies a growing demand for packaging, hygiene paper or newsprint. Another trend is the growing demand for wood chips by bio mass plants to make clean energy.