The first Global WoodMart in Kuala Lumpur signalled the accelerating evolution of Malaysia into a major wood market as well as an exporter, according to the organiser, the Malaysian Timber Council (MTC).
A total of 2,046 visitors from over 50 countries attended the two-day show last week, which will now be held biennially.
The event attracted 108 exhibitors, mainly Malaysian, but including companies from the US, UK, France, New Zealand, Ghana and Brazil.
The WoodMart was also officially backed by The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) and the French Timber marketing organisation.
Opening the event, the Malaysian minister of plantation industries and commodities Tan Sri Bernard Dompok said the international exhibitor presence highlighted that Malaysia, and other key timber powers in South-east Asia, were increasingly being seen as valuable timber buyers, as well as sources of raw timber and finished wood products.
Malaysia itself aims to boost timber and wood products exports from RM21bn (US$6.7bn) this year to RM53bn by 2020 and, with ever tighter sustainable forest management policies limiting the growth of its own harvest, it will need to import increasing volumes of wood.
“The show is an opportunity to buy not only tropical timber but also temperate hardwoods and softwoods,” said Mr Dompok.
MTC chief executive Cheah Kam Huan agreed.
“We expect WoodMart to become a highly effective platform for buyers and suppliers from around the world,” he said.
On the?UK Timber Trade Federation stand Robin Learmount of UK agent Wellwood described the show as a “buying and selling opportunity” for his company.
“Malaysia is increasingly temperate hardwood oriented, particularly flooring producers who want oak,” he said.
Michael Buckley, representing AHEC at the show, said: “Like France’s Carrefour International du Bois, the WoodMart is pure timber, with no distractions. It has a real buzz and looks like it’s going to be very successful.”
? A full show report will appear in a future issue of TTJ.
