KUCHING: Sarawak’s export earnings from timber and timber products have leapt by about 25 per cent to RM376 million in January 2022 from RM301.5 million in the preceding month of December.
Last month’s export revenue was also higher than RM225.9 million recorded in January 2021.
The higher earnings were resulted from the significant increase in the export volumes of logs, plywood and other timber products.
Plywood exports brought in foreign exchange of RM251.8 million (December 2021: RM189.1 million) (free on board value) or an increase of RM62.7 million as the export volume climbed to 91,225 cubic metres from 69,724 cu m month-on-month, according to the latest monthly export data from Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC).
Japan remains the top buyer of Sarawak plywood, accounting for 71,743 cum worth RM191.3 million last month. This was followed by the United States of America, which imported 10,036 cu m valued at RM40.1 million. Korea and Taiwan ranked third and fourth, paying RM5.52 million and RM5.35 million respectively for the panel products.
Sarawak shipped plywood to 16 countries, including the Middle East, Canada, China and Asean member countries.
Last month, Sarawak exported 49,385 cu m of logs worth about RM46.5 million, which was a sharp improvement from 28,345 cu m valued at RM26.3 million in December 2021. All the logs went to India, the dominant buyers for years.
Among the other timber products exported, fibreboard brought in revenue of RM37.3 million (17,273 cu m) which compared favourably with RM24.3 million (11,968 cu m) in December. Japan topped the list of nine countries where Sarawak sold the product, absorbing 11,967 cu m for RM26.2 million.
The Philippines ranked second with purchase of 2,518 cu m for RM5.6 million, followed by Vietnam which imported 886.6 cu m for RM1.87 million.
The exports of sawn timber to 15 countries earned RM22.6 million (12,714 cu m) for Sarawak last month. This was, however, a steep decline from RM44.1 million (21,615 million) in December.
Yemen paid RM5.69 million for imports of 2,337 cu m while the Philippines imported 4,308 cu m for RM5.2 million. The other key export markets are Taiwan, Japan and China.
Sarawak also exported 2,634 cu m of doorskin for RM6.84 million to six countries, with Pakistan as the dominant buyer which paid RM4.4 million for the product. India, South Africa, Taiwan, Guatemala and the Philippines were the other buyers.
The exports of laminated board/flooring earned RM5.1 million (1,079 cu m) last month, a marginal increase from RM4.56 million (988 cu m) in December.
Other timber products exported by Sarawak last month were door panels and frames worth RM1.93 million, particleboard RM993,574, moulding RM435,041 and veneer RM367,772.
Another major export revenue earner for Sarawak came from woodchips, which generated RM27.9 million, up from RM23.4 million in December 2021. China and Japan were the only two buyers of woodchips, paying RM20.94 million and RM6.98 million respectively.
Sarawak shipped out charcoal and briquette valued at RM799,646 to Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Saudi Arabia last month, down from RM1.25 million in December.
The STIDC figures also showed that Sarawak exported RM3.78 million worth of furniture and furniture parts, down slightly from RM3.85 million month-on-month. The key markets were Japan, US and Brunei Darussalam.
