Timber agent PT Agencies Ltd has won business on the back of a positive Tropical Forests Trust (TFT) report on the wood sourcing practices of two Malaysian plywood mills.

The company, which acts as a sales agent for Sibu-based Ta Ann Holdings Berhad and Hua Sen Group, says it has received orders from Finnforest and another major timber company.

The TFT visited the two mills in Sarawak during September 8-13 and its report concludes that both mills “can safely be considered at the present time to be sources of plywood that are verifiably legal”.

Duxford-based PT Agencies said it had pushed for the TFT to inspect the mills because it saw the potential for Malaysian plywood to win business if credible legality of timber could be confirmed.

It also wanted to “anticipate” a possible Greenpeace offensive on Malaysian wood products because of the illegal laundering of Indonesia logs through the country.

&#8220I think there is a willingness in the trade to buy legal timber”

PT Agencies managing director Mike Harrod

Managing director Mike Harrod said: “The issue was to establish legality, not sustainability. I think there is a willingness in the trade to buy legal timber.”

A Finnforest spokesperson confirmed it had placed a number of small orders with the mills as a gesture of good faith but expected them to introduce a programme to improve forestry and work towards certification.