KUALA LUMPUR: Chile is looking at new sectors, specifically timber, to increase its trade with Malaysia, said the Chilean Malaysian Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services AG (Camchimal AG) today.
Camchimal AG is a trade association made up of export and import companies from Chile and Malaysia.
“Malaysia is buying from New Zealand because the freight cost is cheaper. But I do think we have a lot of opportunities because the New Zealand base is going to be a scarcity, that is Malaysia is looking for other options because you do not have enough supply,” Camchimal director Misael Burgos Alarcon told Bernama.
He said this at a talk titled “Chilean Wood Industry and Forestry Industry” at the Malaysian Wood Expo 2023 here today.
“There are exports of (timber) pulp from Chile to Malaysia but no sawn lumber yet. I did engage with Malaysian companies, we have already sent some quotations to some Malaysian companies after a business-to-business session on Monday.
“There are a lot of opportunities because we are already quoting and close some (sales) on pine lumber,” said Alarcon.
In 2021, Chile exported shipments worth US$219 million to Malaysia, with the main products being copper ore, refined copper, and non-fillet frozen fish.
In the same year, Malaysian exports to Chile were worth US$302 million with the main products being rubber apparel, nitrogenous fertilisers and furniture.
“Malaysia has the specific geographical point that may be an advantage point for us and there are some hard woods that we can work with like acacia, for example, one of the hard woods that we are interested in,” said Alarcon, who is also chief business development officer for Chilean-based exporter of forestry products Pacific Forest.
The Malaysian Wood Expo is being held for three days from June 18, and is jointly organised by the Malaysian Timber Council and Pablo Publishing Pte Ltd. – BERNAMA
