The railway track connecting Kawerau industry to the Port of Tauranga could be closed for weeks after a derailment last month trying to cross a flooded section of track near Te Puke.

No one is sure how long the railway track connecting Kawerau industry to the Port of Tauranga will be closed, but it could be weeks.

The KiwiRail freight train has carried logs and wood pulp, among other goods, from Murupara and Kawerau to the international port for the past 20 years.

"The question is how long it's going to take to get running again. KiwiRail has said it will be weeks but they haven't said how many weeks," says Kajavala Forestry Managing Director, Jacob Kajavala.

"The export component of the logs will be slowed right down to the port until that rail is back up again. There will be a bit more trucking going on but there are nowhere near enough trucks to compensate for the loss of that train," he adds.

"There have been bigger market slowdowns, usually driven by sales. This is the first time we've seen a significant slowdown due to logistics. We got through all the other ones, we'll get through this one as well."

Having the railway out of action will affect a number of businesses.

"For this region there will be a slowdown until that rail is back up. How much of a slowdown, we're not quite sure, but it's already slowed down. Everyone is trying to establish timelines as to when it might get going again but it's uncertain right now. It's a very big repair job."

Up to 10 wagons, carrying logs and pulp, derailed. The two-person train crew was uninjured.

A spokesperson from Oji Fibre Solutions says the incident would not adversely affect the Kawerau pulp mill operations. Three wagons of pulp, destined for export, will need to be reclaimed as a result of the derailment, and likely made into recycled paper.