KUCHING, Dec 1 — Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan today said the state exported RM3.05 billion worth of timber products for the third quarter of this year, compared to RM2.92 billion for the corresponding period of last year.
He said Japan remains the main importer of timber products, contributing to RM1.88 billion or 62 per cent of the total export value for the third quarter of this year.
“Other major markets are India (RM357 million), Middle-Eastern countries (RM134 million), China (RM131 million) and Taiwan (RM117 million),” Awang Tengah, who is also the Second Minister of Natural Resources and Urban Development, said in his winding speech at the State Assembly.
He said in terms of products, plywood shows an increase of 2.5 per cent in value exports for the third quarter to RM1.67 billion compared to RM1.63 billion for the quarter third in 2021.
He said the state government remains committed to increasing the value of exports of timber products by encouraging more production of high value-added products such as furniture and wood engineering products as well as intensifying research and development (R&D) efforts.
“It is hoped that this rate of increase can be maintained until the end of 2022 and in the future to ensure the timber industry continues to contribute to socioeconomic development of the state,” he said.
He added under the Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030, the state government is committed to focus on the production of high added-value products such as furniture,engineered wood products and products based on bamboo.
He said the target is in line with the growth potential projected in the value of the world furniture market which is estimated to be US$945 billion by 2030 compared to only US$637 billion in 2021.
He said the market value of the engineered wood products is expected to increase to over US$400 billion by 2030 compared to only US$284 billion in 2019 while the market value for bamboo products is projected to be US$6.9 billion this year and US$12.4 billion in 2031 according to Future Market Insights Global and Consulting, US 2022, report.
Awang Tengah said the state government, through the relevant agencies, will continue to help the industry by providing the necessary infrastructures such as furniture testing laboratories and sites industries such as furniture park in Demak Laut and Tanjung Manis.
He added the state government will also continue to increase R&D collaboration with higher educational institutions, research institutes and industry players to develop high value-added products that are more competitive.
