Plans to promote glued-laminated (glulam) timber
products are being developed by the MTC in order to
assist local manufacturers. MTC hopes to emulate the
success of its competitors in their successful promotional
efforts in Dubai, New Zealand and in Hong Kong.
To further enhance its market promotion the MTC will be
organising training programmes for overseas architects,
designers and manufacturers in the near future. The MTC
is reportedly targeting countries where Malaysian timber
products are not widely marketed.
China investment plan
China, which is one of Malaysia’s biggest trading partners,
will seek further trade and investment opportunities in the
country in the area of oil palm and timber. This emerged
during a press conference held jointly with the visiting
Chinese president Hu Jintao.
China is fast becoming a major buyer of Malaysian
sawnwood, plywood and logs and forecasts are for its
economy to grow by more than 9% in 2010 driven by
growing domestic consumption and exports.
Expectations are high for increased wood consumption
following the government planned low-cost housing
programme. This aims to provide 7.5 million homes to
low-income urban households from 2009 to 2011.
India major player
India’s timber imports in 2008 were around US$1.4
billion, out of which, US$362.8 million (RM1.3 billion)
originated from Malaysia. This made India Malaysia’s
third largest timber trading partner after the US and Japan.
Products exported to India include logs worth US$263
million (RM920 million), mainly from Sarawak and
wooden furniture worth US$44.8 million (RM156.8
million). A recent trade mission by the Malaysian Timber
Council (MTC) to Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai identified
that India is expected to remain a major importer due to its
large population and growing middle-class income group.
Malaysia Log Prices Malaysia
Log Prices
Sarawak
log,
FOB
US$
per m³
Meranti SQ up
226-250
Small
210-241
Super small
200-224
Keruing SQ up
216-228
Small
192-222 ⇑
Super small
170-200 ⇑
Kapur SQ up
206-231
Selangan Batu SQ up
180-217
Pen. Malaysia
logs, domestic (SQ)
US$ per m³
DR Meranti
231-250
Balau
297-326
Merbau
323-355
Rubberwood
52-86 ⇑
Keruing
214-230
Peninsular
Malaysian
meranti
logs are top grade and are used for scantlings for
the EU. Their prices are higher than Sarawaks.
Malaysia
Sawnwood Prices
Malaysia
Sawnwood,
FOB
US$
per
m³
White Meranti A & up
280-310
Seraya Scantlings (75x125 KD)
433-446
Sepetir Boards
249-271
Sesendok 25,50mm
345-363
Kembang Semangkok
293-316
Malaysian
Sawnwood,
domestic
US$ per m³
Balau (25&50mm,100mm+)
325-345
Merbau
452-504
Kempas 50mmx (75,100 & 125mm)
260-300
Rubberwood
25x75x660mm up
201-251 ⇑
50-75mm Sq.
242-274 ⇑
>75mm Sq.
264-293 ⇑
Malaysia Plywood Prices
Malaysia
ply
MR
BB/CC, FOB
US$
per m³
2.7mm
405-467
3mm
385-415
9mm & up
331-403
Meranti ply
BB/CC, domestic
US$ per m³
3mm
380-421
12-18mm
314-343
Other
Malaysia Panel Prices
Malaysia,
Other
Panels,
FOB
US$
per m³
Particleboard Export 12mm & up
226-249
Domestic 12mm & up
211-228
MDF
Export
15-19mm
279-310
Domestic 12-18mm
270-288
Malaysia
Added Value Product Prices
Malaysia,
Mouldings,
FOB
US$
per m³
Selagan Batu Decking
528-538
Red Meranti Mouldings 11x68/92mm x 7ft up
Grade A
543-556
Grade B
496-505
Malaysia
Furniture and Parts Prices
Malaysia,
Rubberwood, FOB
US$ per piece
Semi-finished dining table solid laminated top
2.5'x4', extension leaf