Eastland Port in Gisborne is about to get a $12 million expansion.

Work will begin next month to extend the port's log yard to a total storage area of 12.2 hectares.

The project is part of Eastland Group's 10-year development plan.

Group Chief Executive Matt Todd says log export volumes have grown from 350,000 tonnes in 2005, to 2.3 million this year.

He says the flow-on effects are substantial - forestry companies require more workers, the port needing to increase its staff and trucking companies needing more drivers.