Despite from the market turmoil and decline of European demand for our timber, Malaysia's exports of timber products in 2012 is expected to be better than last year said by Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister, Tan Sri Bernard Dompok (The Star On-Line: 6 March 2012).
This statement was earlier stated by BorneoPost Online, Article dated 5 April 2011 where timber products exports are to increase this year following higher demand from Japan which may rise by at least five per cent from its normal requirement due to reconstruction and rehabilitation projects underway after the disastrous March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
Moreover, Japan was the main importer of Malaysian timber products as stated by Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry secretary-general Datin Paduka Nurmala Abdul Rahim. "Japan imported RM3.7 billion worth and wood-based products last year and we hope this year's exports would surpass last year's RM20.5 billion worth of exports," she told reporters after launching the Malaysian Timber Council Global Woodmart 2012 here on April 4, 2011.
Malaysia's timber and timber products exports in 2008 and 2009 totalled RM22.7 billion and RM19.5 billion, respectively, while exports for January 2011 were higher at RM1.8 billion from RM1.7 billion in January last year.
Meanwhile, Malaysia Timber Council chief executive officer Cheah Kam Huan said Malaysia was experiencing tight timber supply as the output has been hit by the need to conserve Malaysian rainforests, logging areas in Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak have shrunk and affected by uncertain weather conditions.
Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, in other hand, said Malaysia exported timber and timber products valued at RM19.8 billion last year and furniture products accounted for RM6.46 billion or 32.6 per cent of total exports.
“Traditionally, the United States is a top importer of Malaysian furniture. However, in recent years, there has been a notable rise in demand for Malaysian furniture from non-traditional regions like Russia, the Middle East and other Asian countries as Thailand and India,” Dompok said at the opening of the five-day 18th Malaysian International Furniture Fair (MIFF) 2012 which began here today.
“But, it is now time to move on to medium and high-end markets. It is no longer sustainable for us to compete against developing economies, which have cheaper resources and labour. I am optimistic that the aggregation of efforts by the industry and the government will contribute towards achieving the target of RM16 billion in furniture exports by 2020,” he added.
To sustain timber supply, he said, the government had earmarked large scale forest plantations, with 375,000 hectares to be planted over a 15-year period with an allocation of RM1 billion.
He said the plantation project began four years ago and includes rubber wood, which is the most sought after timber species by furniture makers (BERNAMA).
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