Malaysia expects to increase its timber exports to M$17bn this year from M$16.3bn in 2003, says the country’s plantation enterprises and commodity minister.
Timber exports last year went up by 7%, with the furniture sector taking the biggest share (M$4.72bn), followed by plywood (M$4.06bn) and sawn timber (M$2.31bn).
However, minister Peter Chin Fah Kui said the industry faced a number of challenges, including supply of raw material for processing, a shortage of manpower and low productivity compared to competitor nations.
Malaysia also has competition from low-cost producers such as Vietnam and China, as well as suffering tariffs and other barriers which restrict its products entering international markets.
