KUCHING: Sarawak exported 174,038 cubic metres of logs with free on board (FOB) value of nearly RM89.1 million in May, the highest monthly shipment recorded in 2019.
The export volumes have increased significantly over the past three months. In April, 163,215 cu m worth RM81.8 million was exported, an increase from 127,222 cu m (RM60.78 million) in March and 80,292 cu m (RM30.2 million) in February. The January’s export volume was 138,877 cu m worth RM78.2 million.
This brought to a total 683,648 cu m of logs shipped out to foreign markets in the January-May 2019 period, bringing in foreign exchange earnings of about RM340 million, according to figures from Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC).
Sarawak logs exports have fallen in recent years due to dwindling production and reduced export quota imposed by the state authorities in line with the state’s sustainable forest management policy and to enable raw materials be reserved for downstream timber processing activities.
During the first five months, India ranked No 1 as Sarawak’s largest buyer of logs (in terms of value), absorbing 227,858 cu m worth RM198 million. India imported 55,302 cu m for RM50.73 million in May.
Indonesia purchased 383,164 cu m worth RM81.53 million — all made up of acacia mangium from planted forest — in the first five months, followed by Taiwan (39,705 cu m for RM34.83 million and Japan (15,657 cu m for RM13.58 million). Sarawak also sold its timber to Vietnam
and China.
Sarawak exported about RM1.65 billion worth of timber products, comprising mainly plywood, sawn timber, fibreboard and veneer during the January-May 2019 period.
More than 60 percent of the export earnings or RM1.08 billion was contributed by plywood, followed by sawn timber (RM263.5 million), fibreboard (RM136.8 million) and veneer (RM43.3 million), according to the
STIDC figures.
Traditional buyer Japan imported about 72 percent of Sarawak’s total plywood exports, with the total shipment valued at RM780.4 million (FOB). The state shipped RM95.3 million and RM64.3 million worth of plywood to Yemen and Korea respectively. Sarawak panel products have a diverse market in 28 countries, including the US and
Middle East.
Japan imported the bulk or 60,771 cu m of fibreboard worth RM112.2 million out of Sarawak’s total exports of RM136.9 million.
The state’s other exported timber products include laminated board/flooring, moulding, particle board, dowel and blockboard.
The US is the largest importer of Sarawak’s laminated board, taking up RM10.3 million out of the state’s total export value of RM15.8 million.
The exports of woodchip brought in RM79.96 million in foreign exchange earnings during the first five months 2019. Sarawak exported RM19.98 million worth of furniture and furniture parts and RM56,530 worth of door panel and frames during the same period.
