ASSOCIATED British Ports' Port of Newport received its first shipment of cargo for Rowlinson Timber recently when almost 4,000 cubic metres of timber was discharged at the port's South Dock.

A valued customer of ABP, Rowlinson Timber has been importing timber from Russia, the Baltic states and Scandinavia, to ABP's Port of Grimsby & Immingham, since the late 1990s. ABP invested £1m in a new storage and distribution facility at Immingham in 2003, following the signing of a ten-year agreement with Rowlinson Timber, which complemented its existing timber-treatment plant, and operations at the Port of Grimsby.

The expansion of Rowlinson Timber's business with ABP - from the Humber ports to its facilities in South Wales - is a prime example of ABP developing long-term relationships with quality customers.

By importing timber into South Wales, Rowlinson Timber stands to benefit from the geographical spread of ABP's ports, which are ideally located to accommodate the diverse logistical requirements of its customers.

John Fitzgerald, ABP port director, South Wales Ports, said: "It is good to be working with our friends at Rowlinson Timber here in South Wales. I have no doubt our working relationship will continue to thrive over the course of this new project. "Rowlinson Timber has been hugely successful in growing its business through the Humber, and I am confident this South Wales initiative will be equally successful." Rowlinson Timber's managing director John Bate, said: "This new initiative in South Wales will allow us to extend our customer base further and to continue serving existing customers in this area efficiently."