Furniture and forest products
The beauty and diversification of Western Australia's (WA) native hardwoods result in a range of high quality products and particularly fine furniture.
As hardwood supply throughout the world continues to tighten the prospects for value adding, milling and dressing of Western Australian hardwoods becomes more attractive.
WA offers great opportunities for the manufacture of fine furniture. The State already has native timber furniture makers who have successfully established overseas markets.
WA’s mature softwood plantations support value adding industries such as structural timber products, laminated veneer lumber, particle board and medium density fibre board. Hardwoods are currently grown as a short rotation crop in the South West of the State, for export to the paper industry.
There is also potential for the production of oil from supplies of sandalwood trees grown in the State's mid to low rainfall areas, from the Kimberley to the Great Southern region. Another prospective forest product is the commercial production of tea tree oil for therapeutic goods.
The forest industry should be viewed as a long term investment.
For investment and trade related advice please contact the Department of State Development (www.dsd.wa.gov.au).