ONE of the UK's leading timber-handling ports has secured a new long-term contract with a major importer of forest products. 

Associated British Ports (ABP) has signed the agreement with the Landguard Point Group at its Port of King’s Lynn, Norfolk. 

The deal follows ABP's recent investment of £3 million toward the development of 4.5 acres of hard standing and the implementation of a new Terminal Operating System (TOS) – CommTrac v4 – at the site. 

Paul Ager, divisional port manager, ABP, said: “2023 has been another busy year for timber at the Port of King’s Lynn, having exceeded 180,000 m3 so far this year, and with June being the port’s busiest month on record for timber handling at ABP. 

“The team at the port of King’s Lynn rehandle on average 2,500 m3 of timber onto customer transport each week to go directly to their customers. In whatever size and packaging forest products arrive at the port, we have the expertise and equipment to handle them efficiently.”

Ashley Brown, general manager (Bury St Edmunds), Landguard Point Group, said: “We’re pleased to have established a long-term partnership with the Port of King’s Lynn, which  has proven track-record as an efficient timber-distribution terminal. 

“It is also the port’s strategic location and proximity to local markets, which enables us to provide cost-effective and timely delivery of the best possible service and products to our customers.”

The UK is the world's third-largest net importer of timber products, only beaten by China and the USA. Around 81 per cent of its wood is sourced from abroad.