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.”

&#8220Logs 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.”