Marketwatch reported that prices of Malaysian timber
products remained weak as plywood mills reduced
production by 35% to 40%, while furniture manufacturers
and sawmills were cutting production by up to 50%. The
demand for Malaysian timber products is highly dependent
on housing starts of major importing countries such as
Japan and the US.
Housing starts in Japan fell for the sixth month in a row,
according to the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure,
Transport and Tourism. Housing starts declined 32.4% in
April 2009 compared to the same month a year ago,
registering an estimated 66,198 units. During the same
period, overall building starts in Japan fell 32.5% to 9,431
units. In addition, construction orders from Japan’s 50
leading domestic construction firms declined 25.9% to
JPY562.8 billion (approx. USD5.8 billion).
US housing starts declined 13% to an annual rate of
458,000 units in April 2009, reported Bloomberg. The
decline was led by units for multifamily starts, which
showed a drop of 46%. Total construction on multifamily
homes, such as townhouses and apartment buildings,
declined to 90,000 in April 2009, down from 167,000 in
March 2009.
Some timber trade manufacturers continue to be of the
opinion that it may take up to 3 to 4 years for the
Malaysian timber industry to recover to the level estimated
before global economic downturn.
Global Forestry Services to audit FMUs
An independent third-party company, Global Forestry
Services (GFS), will provide audits of long-term licenses
for Forest Management Units (FMU) under a 2-year
project in the state of Sabah, according to the state forestry
director, Mr. Sam Mannan.
The Daily Express reported that the scope of work will
include but not be limited to a legal audit of the licensees,
which include both an approved Forest Management Plan
(FMP) and approved Annual Work Plan (AWP). In
addition, the performance of licensees will be based on the
level of compliance against an agreed checklist.
The project, ‘The Sabah Forestry Department-European
Union-Malaysia Timber Council Independent Third Party
Auditing’, will cost about RM964,390.00. The Dutch
government and the German Agency for Technical Cooperation
will be contributing EUR193,673 (RM950,000)
for the first year activities.
Mr. Mannan added that this may help to address the
number of issues and challenges under the proposed EUMalaysia
Voluntary Partnership Agreement on Forest
Law, Governance and Trade. Furthermore, it will assist
licensees to be certified under a credible and
internationally recognized system, which will be made
compulsory by year 2014.
Malaysia Log Prices
Malaysia
Log Prices
| Sarawak
log, FOB |
US$
per m³ |
| Meranti SQ up |
228-252 |
|
Small
|
211-242 |
|
Super small
|
200-224 |
| Keruing SQ up |
216-228 |
|
Small
|
187-218 |
|
Super small
|
162-193 |
| Kapur SQ up |
206-231 |
| Selangan Batu SQ up |
178-215 |
|
| Pen. Malaysia
logs, domestic (SQ) |
US$ per m³ |
| DR Meranti |
232-251 |
| Balau |
298-325 |
| Merbau |
320-353
|
| Rubberwood |
42-77 |
| Keruing |
215-231 |
| 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 |
| White Meranti A & up |
280-311
|
| Seraya Scantlings (75x125 KD) |
446-461 ⇓
|
| Sepetir Boards |
249-271
|
| Sesendok 25,50mm |
349-367 ⇓
|
| Kembang Semangkok |
294-317
|
|
| Malaysian
Sawnwood, domestic |
US$ per m³
|
| Balau (25&50mm,100mm+) |
328-348 ⇓
|
| Merbau |
469-520 ⇓
|
| Kempas 50mmx (75,100 & 125mm) |
260-300
|
| Rubberwood |
25x75x660mm up |
196-246
|
| 50-75mm Sq. |
237-269
|
| >75mm Sq. |
259-288
|
Malaysia Plywood Prices
| Malaysia
ply MR BB/CC, FOB |
US$
per m³ |
| 2.7mm |
413-475 ⇓
|
| 3mm |
390-420 ⇓
|
| 9mm & up |
335-407 ⇓
|
| Meranti ply
BB/CC, domestic |
US$ per m³ |
|
3mm
|
386-427 ⇓
|
|
12-18mm
|
320-349 ⇓
|
Other
Malaysia Panel Prices
| Malaysia,
Other Panels, FOB |
US$
per m³ |
| Particleboard Export 12mm & up |
227-250 ⇓
|
|
Domestic 12mm & up
|
212-229 ⇓
|
| MDF
Export 15-19mm |
282-314 ⇓
|
|
Domestic 12-18mm
|
271-289 ⇓
|
Malaysia
Added Value Product Prices
| Malaysia,
Mouldings, FOB |
US$
per m³ |
| Selagan Batu Decking |
541-551 ⇓
|
| Red Meranti Mouldings 11x68/92mm x 7ft up |
|
Grade A
|
556-569 ⇓
|
|
Grade B
|
507-516 ⇓
|
Malaysia
Furniture and Parts Prices
| Malaysia,
Rubberwood, FOB |
US$ per piece |
| Semi-finished dining table solid laminated top
2.5'x4', extension leaf |
58-74
|
| As above, Oak Veneer |
65-79
|
| Windsor Chair |
57-59
|
| Colonial Chair |
55-60
|
| Queen Anne Chair (soft seat) |
without arm |
55-63
|
| with arm |
55-64
|
| Chair Seat 27x430x500mm |
43-48
|
| Rubberwood
Tabletop |
US$ per m³ |
| 22x760x1220mm sanded & edge
profiled |
|
Top Grade
|
554-586 |
|
Standard
|
539-557 |
|
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