Page 20 - FDMAsia SepOct 2024

18 FOCUS SEP/OCT 2024 FDM ASIA | www.fdmasia.com

TROPICAL TIMBER MARKET REPORT

Economic recovery may take longer than earlier expected, countries continue to explore new
opportunities, and there is more push for EUDR to be delayed. ITTO tells us more about recent
developments in the market

MALAYSIA could be undertaken through a systematic replanting plan to
Sawn rubberwood shortage produce logs suitable for sawnwood production.
For many years, according to Muar Furniture Association Ong said rubber trees planted for timber can be harvested
president Steve Ong, furniture makers have been facing a in seven to eight years as compared to harvesting rubberwood
shortage of rubberwood. from trees that produce latex which take a period of 20 to
Speaking to the Star newspaper, Ong said the impact was 25 years.
more noticeable recently because of changes in plantation
practices and the high level of rubberwood veneer exports. Cooperation to improve upstream and downstream

Ong said about 80 percent of wooden furniture in Malaysia sectors
is produced using rubberwood. He urged the government The Malaysian Timber Council (MTC) aims to strengthen its
to intervene by limiting the export of rubberwood and to partnership with the Sarawak Timber Industry Development
prioritise local manufacturing. Corporation (STIDC) and the private sector towards supporting
The Furniture Association was pushing for replanting the growth of the nation’s wood-based industry.
programmes to salvage the situation hoping that such efforts MTC Chief Executive Officer, Noraihan Abdul Rahman,

PaulGrecaud