The exports more than doubled to US$416m (2012: US$194m), with wood furniture making up a sizeable portion of the trade.
The reason for the growth is open to interpretation – some believe the increase is down to a surge in exports prior to implementation of the EU Timber Regulation in March.
But others suggest the exports are performing strongly because of effective timber legality assurance systems in Indonesia despite the delays in ratification of the country’s Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with the EU.
A VPA is necessary to demonstrate the legality of Indonesia’s wood product exports to the EU.
