A new panel products agency is taking advantage of its Chinese connections to combat the reduction in the amount of plywood available to the UK from Indonesia and Malaysia.

Guildford-based Panda Panels Agencies has been set up by Chris Williams, formerly of Eurindo Ltd, to specialise in South-east Asian panel products. Sales in the north of England and Scotland are handled by Mike Tattersall Agencies.

Mr Williams said: “Trading in China, where there are literally thousands of plywood mills, is different to trading in Malaysia and Indonesia. A significant volume of plywood is exported through state-owned trading companies who do not necessarily know the quality requirements of the different markets.”

Mr Williams has identified mills willing and able to produce plywood to specifications required in the UK.

He said: “Each mill we represent is a modern high tech factory with the facilities to produce consistent good quality plywood.

&#8220All our mills agree to comply with the recommendations and guidelines set out recently by the National Panel Products Division of The Timber Trade Federation in line with the TTF Code of Practice.”

Chris Williams, Panda Panel Agencies.

“All have agreed to comply with the recommendations and guidelines set out in the recent circular issued by the National Panel Products Division of the Timber Trade Federation in respect of compliance with the Code of Practice.”

Panda Panels is financed by Hock Hoe Heng Timber Pte Ltd of Singapore.