Zhuangzhai Town, Cao County, Heze City in Shandong Province is one of the important wood-based panel production bases in the country and the largest candlenut (Aleurites moluccanus or moluccana) processing, trading and distribution centre for candlenut wood products.
Wood processing is the leading industry in Zhuangzhai Town. There are more than 600 enterprises and 37 industrial enterprises with annual main business income of RMB20 million. It is estimated that around 60,000 direct and indirect jobs have been created employees. The annual wood processing capacity is said to be 3 million cubic metres.
Almost all the enterprises in Zhuangzhai Town started as sawmills and gradually moved to added value processing. Today they are leading the industry in the manufacturing of candlenut coffins, children’s furniture and toys and shutters. Products are marketed in Europe, America and Australia along with around 40 other countries.