However, exports of builders’ woodwork and joinery rose by 12% to RM338 million and fibreboard exports registered an increase of 8% to RM393 million for the January to April period in 2011 compared to levels in the same period of 2010.
Plywood imports by Japan slow as inventories are assessed
Japanese imports of Malaysian plywood have slowed as plywood importers evaluate their inventories. News is circulating that some importers have run out of storage space in their warehouses.
According to statistics released by the Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC), Sarawak’s exports of plywood to Japan amounted to RM476 million in the first quarter of this year. However, exports of plywood rose to RM926 million in the second quarter, an increase of more than 65% compared to levels in the same period last year. Sarawak plywood exporters are projecting an increase in the demand for plywood well into 2012.
Flow of logs to Sarawak mills back to normal
The STIDC has indicated that the flow of logs to domestic mills has returned to normal and that the plywood mills in Sarawak, with a combined capacity of 4 million cu.m, are now operating at about 70% of capacity. Sarawak’s exports of plywood to South Korea, its second largest market after Japan, fell from RM107 million in the first quarter of this year to RM55 million in the second quarter.
This was due to the imposition of anti-dumping duties by the South Korea Trade Commission placed on plywood of Sarawak origin after complaints filed by the South Korean Wood Panel Association.
Nevertheless, Sarawak exported RM2.1 billion worth of panel-products in the first half of this year compared to RM1.95 billion in the same period last year. The volume of panel products exported during the first half of this year was only 1.3 million cu.m, whereas the volume exported during the same period last year totaled 1.46 million cu.m. Taiwan P.o.C was the third largest export destination for plywood from Sarawak in the first half of this year with imports valued at RM147.5 million for a volume of 112,900 cu.m. The Philippines is the fourth largest market at RM56 million (34,360 cu.m).
Exports to countries in the Middle-East picked in the first half of the year with Egypt importing some RM40 million (26,270 cu.m) and Yemen importing RM31 million (25,360 cu.m).
Sarawak log, FOB | US$ per m³ |
Meranti SQ up | 264-291 ⇑ |
Small
|
252-285 ⇑ |
Super small
|
255-279 ⇑ |
Keruing SQ up | 245-257 ⇑ |
Small
|
236-268 ⇑ |
Super small
|
227-251 ⇑ |
Kapur SQ up | 238-264 ⇑ |
Selangan Batu SQ up | 242-274 ⇑ |
Pen. Malaysia logs, domestic (SQ) | US$ per m³ |
DR Meranti | 280-298 ⇑ |
Balau | 326-356 ⇑ |
Merbau | 374-405 ⇑ |
Rubberwood | 106-140 ⇑ |
Keruing | 248-274 ⇑ |
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 | |
DR
Meranti |
414-450 ⇑ | |
White Meranti A & up |
310-340 ⇑
|
|
Seraya Scantlings (75x125 KD) |
454-466 ⇑
|
|
Sepetir Boards |
277-306 ⇑
|
|
Sesendok 25,50mm |
365-383 ⇑
|
|
Kembang Semangkok |
342-370 ⇑
|
|
Malaysian Sawnwood, domestic |
US$ per m³
|
|
Balau (25&50mm,100mm+) |
346-366 ⇑
|
|
Merbau |
484-536 ⇑
|
|
Kempas 50mmx (75,100 & 125mm) |
290-330 ⇑
|
|
Rubberwood | 25x75x660mm up |
241-291 ⇑
|
50-75mm Sq. |
279-311 ⇑
|
|
>75mm Sq. |
301-331 ⇑
|
Malaysia Plywood Prices
Malaysia ply MR BB/CC, FOB | US$ per m³ |
2.7mm |
448-509 ⇑
|
3mm |
429-459 ⇑
|
9mm & up |
380-450 ⇑
|
Meranti ply BB/CC, domestic | US$ per m³ |
3mm
|
372-462 ⇑
|
12-18mm
|
355-384 ⇑
|
Other Malaysia Panel Prices
Malaysia, Other Panels, FOB | US$ per m³ |
Particleboard Export 12mm & up |
263-286 ⇑
|
Domestic 12mm
& up
|
254-268 ⇑
|
MDF Export 15-19mm |
315-347 ⇑
|
Domestic 12-18mm
|
306-325 ⇑
|
Malaysia Added Value Product Prices
Malaysia, Mouldings, FOB | US$ per m³ |
Selagan Batu Decking |
576-586 ⇑
|
Red Meranti Mouldings 11x68/92mm x 7ft up | |
Grade A
|
590-603 ⇑
|
Grade B
|
545-555 ⇑
|
Malaysia Furniture and Parts Prices
Malaysia, Rubberwood, FOB | US$ per piece | |
Semi-finished dining table solid laminated top 2.5'x4', extension leaf |
79-95 ⇑
|
|
As above, Oak Veneer |
86-100 ⇑
|
|
Windsor Chair |
78-80 ⇑
|
|
Colonial Chair |
76-81 ⇑
|
|
Queen Anne Chair (soft seat) | without arm |
78-87 ⇑
|
with arm |
78-88 ⇑
|
|
Chair Seat 27x430x500mm |
64-69 ⇑
|
|
Rubberwood Tabletop | US$ per m³ | |
22x760x1220mm sanded & edge profiled | ||
Top Grade
|
634-664 ⇑ | |
Standard
|
617-633 ⇑ |