The NCT Story

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... the die had been cast

the point had been made. CTC began chipping Eucalyptus logs for Sumitomo in 1980. Such was NCT’s involvement in log export markets that it removed from the local market some 314 000 tons Eucalyptus and 130 000 tons Pine pulpwood between 1978 and 1983. 1979 Runner-up: exporter of the year NCT attained a singular achievement in 1979 when it was voted runner-up in the Exporter of the Year award. This competition was run by the SA Foreign Trade Organisation in conjunction with “The Sunday Tribune” newspaper to stimulate exports in those times of international trade sanctions. Receipt of such an accolade was highly prized by the business community in those days and NCT, as a relative newcomer in a very competitive game, was proud of the achievement. At this time there were further developments in the local market. On the home front there was expansion at the new port of Richards Bay with Mondi establishing a pulp mill and CTC relocating its chipping plant. Saiccor and NCT had finalised a favourable supply contract for hardwoods which reduced the need for constant log export shipments. This development paved the way for the emerging Black timber farmers to supply these markets. Thereafter NCT executed a few shipments each year although volumes had decreased considerably. Since the early eighties NCT has, from time to time, committed itself to ad hoc log export shipments in such diverse markets as Finland, Norway, Turkey and Morocco. This type of operation, often fraught with risk for the unwary, removed excess timber from the local scene and assisted in triggering price increases.

1978 Enter Ken McLeod Ken McLeod was appointed as the first General Manager of NCT. He arrived at a time of growing expansion and diversification bringing his expertise gained in a related industry which was to prove invaluable to NCT in that sometimes painful period. Sadly he had to retire early due to a serious motor accident after only six years’ service. During this period NCT had been dealing directly with many agents. Shipments continued on an ad hoc basis until late 1979 when a new

Ken McLeod was selected as the first General Manager of NCT, appointed in 1978

buyer appeared on the scene by the name of Marubeni Corporation from Japan. Marubeni, a direct competitor of CTC’s trading partner, Sumitomo Corporation, was interested in buying Eucalyptus pulpwood logs. Sumitomo quite naturally voiced opposition to one of the primary co-operatives of CTC dealing directly with its rival. Fair enough, declared NCT, but then Sumitomo should make every effort to purchase NCT’s surplus Gum. Regrettably a certain amount of strong feeling arose between several personalities in NCT and CTC over the issue but

The NCT Story

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