Steady global demand has put Malaysia on track to beat last year’s record exports of timber and timber-based products.
The industry recorded its best performance in 2000 with exports worth RM17.7bn. They fell to 21.5% to RM13.9bn in 2001 then rose 10% to RM15.3bn last year.
For the first seven months of this year, Malaysia sold RM12.1bn – a 6.1% increase compared with RM11.4bn in the previous comparable period.
Deputy primary industries minister Datuk Anifah Aman said global demand will sustain until year-end and the sector will perform marginally better this year to beat 2002 exports.
He added: “The bulk of Malaysia’s timber exports, especially furniture, is expected to come from buyers in west Asia such as United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar.”
“Logs which come from a sustainable resource can ensure a competitive price and it’s better to have lower volumes of timber with an attractive price than high volumes, but poor prices ” |
Malaysian deputy primary industries minister Datuk Anifah Aman |
He stressed that Malaysia is strong on producing timber and timber products from sustainable resources, adding: “This is because, at the end of the day, logs which come from a sustainable resource can ensure a competitive price. It’s better to have lower volumes of timber with an attractive price than high volume but poor prices.”
Mr Anifah said Malaysia is still seeking a meeting with Indonesia to settle accusations that it is dumping plywood into the international market.
He added: “As both countries are exporters of timber and timber products, it is better that we both sit down and discuss ways towards a mutual solution rather than making accusations.”