Sarawak's Jan-March timber export value registers RM1.42 bln

Sarawak's total export earnings from timber and timber products registered RM1.42 billion for the first three months this year.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, who is also Second Minister for Urban Development and Natural Resources said, the tight supply of logs at home and uncertain markets, continued to impact the export of timber from the state.

He said plywood, logs, sawn timber and medium density fibreboard (MDF) were the major export products.

"Japan remains the largest buyer of timber and timber products from Sarawak in accounting for 42 per cent or RM592 million of the overall export earnings, followed by India 15 per cent (RM213 million), South Korea 10 per cent (RM146 million) and the Middle East at eight per cent (RM112 million)," he added.

He said this in his speech at the opening of the Third Sarawak Timber and SMEs Expo 2017 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here today.

The event was officiated by Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg.

Awang Tengah said Sarawak's export of wooden furniture had registered an increase of five per cent to RM11.16 million in the first quarter of this year from RM10.66 million in the same period of 2016.

"This positive trend augurs well for future growth and Sarawak's furniture exports," he added. --Bernama