Categories: Stories

Fires disrupt Border’s production

A total of 40 fires, suspected to have been caused by arson, destroyed 900 hectares of timber belonging to Border Timbers, disrupting production of sawlogs.

The fires also forced the company to re-allocate resources originally ear-marked for thinning to fire-salvaging operations.

But the financials still looked good. The company had a net profit of $6.1 billion in the six months to December, a drastic improvement from $805.2 million realised in the first half of the previous year.

Net profit for the year to June 2003 was nearly $5 billion.

The planting programme fell far short of target because of poor rains. This was expected to improve in the second half.

Pruning was ahead of target. The baboon menace was under control.

The Paulington factory performed well in the six months with production of multi-ply and sliced veneer exceeding targets.

Production of blockboard and thin-ply was below target.

Prices on the international market were not competitive and the company saw no rationale in continuing with exports.

On the financial side, sales soared from $3.2 billion to $21.3 billion with operating profit improving from $835.5 million to $7.5 billion.

(17 VIEWS)

Charles Rukuni

The Insider is a political and business bulletin about Zimbabwe, edited by Charles Rukuni. Founded in 1990, it was a printed 12-page subscription only newsletter until 2003 when Zimbabwe's hyper-inflation made it impossible to continue printing.

Recent Posts

To go or not to go- Mnangagwa in a quandary

Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa has repeatedly stated that he is not going to contest a…

November 25, 2024

ZiG loses steam, falls against US dollar for five consecutive days

The Zimbabwe Gold fell against the United States dollar for five consecutive days from Monday…

November 22, 2024

Indian think tank says Starlink is a wolf in sheep’s clothing

An Indian think tank has described Starlink, a satellite internet service provider which recently entered…

November 18, 2024

ZiG firms against US dollar for 10 days running but people still do not have confidence in the currency

Zimbabwe’s new currency, the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), firmed against the United States dollars for 10…

November 16, 2024

Zimbabwe among the top countries with the widest gap between the rich and poor

Zimbabwe is among the top 30 countries in the world with the widest gap between…

November 14, 2024

Can the ZiG sustain its rally against the US dollar?

Zimbabwe’s battered currency, the Zimbabwe Gold, which was under attack until the central bank devalued…

November 10, 2024