Port Taranaki is basking in an early summer haze as strong international prices push record amounts of logs through for export. The so-called “wall of wood” shows no sign of tumbling as increasing numbers of export logs are trucked in and shipped out of the west coast port. The growth trend is forecast to continue as strong international market conditions boost trade, and business extending to become year-round instead of seasonal, Port Taranaki chief executive Guy Roper said. Favourable market conditions, low inventory levels in China, and large numbers of harvest-ready trees in the port’s catchment area of Taranaki, King Country and Whanganui had helped push through record numbers of logs in the past 12 months. The forestry industry was enjoying a rise in trade as greater urbanisation in China resulted in greater demand for wood for housing and infrastructure, Roper said.