Border a market leader in the US

Zimbabwe and the United States may be at loggerheads but Border Timbers seems to be doing booming business in the United States. And it says despite the turmoil in the United States demand for its products there has remained predictable.

According to its interim report for the six months to December, sales increased from $1 billion to $3.2 billion, more than the $2.6 billion realised for the year ending June 2002.

The company turned around from an operating loss of $10.5 million to an operating profit of $835.5 million while net profit shot up from $1.9 million to $805.2 million.

The factory and sawmilling division was adversely affected by a fire which destroyed 700 hectares of plantations worth about $6 billion.

The division has lost a total of about 1 600 hectares of plantation to fire and this should take about 25 years for the trees to grow.

Baboons are also causing havoc but the company has been given the go-ahead to control them.

The Paulington factory had a good six months with output close to the optimum achieved in 1995 and 1996.

Both local and regional markets remained strong. Border Timbers International had broadened its customer base in the United States where it is now considered a market leader because of the superior quality of its products.

The company says despite the hyperinflationary environment, its markets remain vibrant.

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