The global economic downturn was cited as the reason behind the 27.3% drop in the export value of logs and timber products from Malaysia’s Sarawak state in the first four months of 2009.
In its latest newsletter, the Sarawak Timber Development Corporation said the state exported M$1.87bn-worth of logs and timber products, compared with M$2.56 in the same period in 2008.
Values of logs, sawn timber, plywood, veneer, dowels, mouldings, particleboard, MDF and laminated board all fell by varying amounts, although there was an increase in values for block board, woodchips and other timber products.
The export value of sawn timber fell by 35.45% compared with the same period last year, from 385,287m³ in 2008 to 248,692m³ in the first four months of 2009.
Traditional importing countries such as Thailand, the Middle East and Taiwan all decreased their volumes of purchase, although imports of sawn timber to the Philippines increased by 16.43%.
Meanwhile, Japan maintained its position as the leading purchaser of the state’s plywood, followed by Korea, the Middle East, Taiwan and the Philippines. However, exports of plywood in the first four months of 2009 still fell by 32.19% by volume and 2.48% by value compared with the previous year.
