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New company takes over SEFE operations

After 45 years of operations, South East Fibre Exports at Eden in south east New South Wales will be sold to new Australian owned company Allied Natural Wood Exports Pty Ltd. Source: Timberbiz

Allied Natural Wood Exports (ANWE) is a new world class wood products marketing and logistics company that will sell certified natural and plantation grown wood products from public and private growers to the international market.

Drawing on a wealth of international marketing experience, ANWE has agreed to meet the existing chip export supply agreements which run to 2018 however, its ultimate goal is to enhance and improve the way Australian wood product exports are managed and marketed.

Spokesman for Allied Natural Wood Exports local forester, Mr Rob de Fégely says that ANWE will be partnering with Australian Marshalling Services Pty Ltd, an established Australian logistics business, which has been operating at Eden and in the surrounding region for nearly 20 years.

ANWE will take ownership of South East Fibre Exports on 23 December 2015.

All the SEFE staff and contractors have been notified of the sale and a number of new positions in line with the longer term objectives of the company will be offered to both the staff and the harvesting and haulage contractors.

ANWE’s goal is to grow the business with the objective of creating a range of sustainable economic opportunities for the region.

Local resident and experienced forest industry operator Kel Henry has been appointed general manager of ANWE.

In the longer term ANWE sees hardwood and softwood plantation development, new wood processing technology and innovation as the key strategies for its future and will be actively exploring these new opportunities to develop the business along the far south coast of New South Wales and throughout eastern Victoria.

In concluding the sale, ANWE acknowledged the positive contribution of the current and previous owners of SEFE to the Eden and the regional forest community.

ANWE is committed to the growth of the business and looks forward to working with all stakeholders including Forestry Corporation of NSW, Vic Forests, harvesting and haulage contractors, employees, local councils and local businesses and the Eden community in general.

ANWE’s commitment to the industry and community:

  • ANWE will support and represent forest owners in the market in a transparent way and with a unified approach.
  • ANWE will provide a stable and reliable fibre supply partnership to high quality, diverse and ethical manufacturers.
  • ANWE will optimise existing supply chains and seek new opportunities to increase the commercial and social viability of the industry.
  • ANWE is committed to safety, protecting the environment and to working with and supporting the communities in which we operate.
  • ANWE recognises that credible independent certification of forest management and chain of custody contributes to sustainable forest management.

ANWE will prioritise the purchase of products from certified sources, favouring labels or certificates that include environmental or sustainability claims that are supported by publicly available standards drawn up in a fully participatory, transparent and objective process and verified by independent third-party auditing.

Harris-Daishowa (Aust) Pty Ltd (HDA) was incorporated on 20 December 1967 as a joint venture between the Daishowa Paper Manufacturing Co of Japan and Australian Company, Harris Holdings Pty Ltd.

In 1969 the owners of Harris Holdings liquidated their interest in the company, selling out to a consortium made up of Australian Paper Mills (APM), Brambles and the Dillingham Corporation who, between them, took up the 51% share in the company.

Faced with mounting financial losses, the consortium decided to sell their share and withdrew from the project in early 1971.

Under conditions approved by the Australian Government in 1971, Daishowa and C Itoh Trading Company (now known as Itochu) were permitted to purchase the 51% of shares originally owned by Harris Holdings Pty Ltd.

The company continued to operate under the overall control of Nippon Paper Industries, which completed a merger with Daishowa in 2003. Harris Daishowa Pty Ltd officially changed its name to South East Fibre Exports Pty Ltd in 2003.