KUCHING: Sarawak’s exports of logs and plywood plunged in September, affecting the state’s foreign exchange earnings. Export volume of logs fell to about 56,121 cubic metres (cu m) worth free on board (FOB) value of RM44.84 million as compared to 85,410 cu m worth RM65.72 million in August. In July, the export volume was 119,836 cu m valued at
RM64.85 million.
There was no export of plantation log, acacia mangium, to Indonesia in September against export of 8,653 cu m (RM1.86 million) in August. That could be one of the main contributors for the lower log export quantity in September.
India absorbed more than 80 percent or 45,247 cu m (RM36.1 million) of Sarawak’s total log sales in September. The balance of log exports went to Japan (6,705 cu m worth RM5.41 million) and Vietnam (4,168 cu m worth RM3.33 million).
From January to September, Sarawak earned RM546.82 million from export sales of 993,127 cu m of logs, according to latest monthly statistics released by Sarawak
Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC).
The top export timber species is meranti, which made up 32,079 cu m (RM23.19 million) or about 57 percent of the total export. Other key export timber species are keruing, mixed light hardwoods and kapur.
For plywood, the export volume shrank to 86,263 cu m (FOB value of RM164 million) in September from 103,212 cu m (RM201.4 million) in August. The July export volume was 96,571 cu m (RM198.7 million).
Japan, which is the No. 1 export market for Sarawak plywood products, bought 47,971 cu m (RM98.85 million), which represents about 55 percent of the state’s total shipment. Other key markets are Yemen (14,681 cu m worth RM23.95 million), Taiwan (8,197 cu m worth RM12.68 million) and Korea (5,666 cu m worth RM9.21 million).
During the January-September period, the STIDC figures shown that Sarawak exported 854,948 cu m of plywood products valued at RM1.759 billion.
In the same period, Sarawak shipped out about 2.453 million cu m of logs and timber products with total value of RM3.31 billion.
In September, Sarawak also exported less sawn timber at 30,851 cu m (RM59.1 million), down from 36,004 cu m (RM65.4 million) in August.
The top export sawn timber species is mixed light hardwoods, which amounted to 23,610 cu m (RM43.5 million) or about 76 percent of total export volume.
Yemen is the top buyer of Sarawak sawn timber, taking up 8,781 cu m (RM20.22 million) or more than 28 percent of the total export volume. Other key export markets are Thailand, the Philippines and Taiwan.
However, the export volume of veneer shot up to 8,631 cu m (RM10.32 million) from 6,294 cu m (RM7.37 million) month-on-month. Taiwan came up top in importing Sarawak veneer as the bulk or 5,741 cu m (RM6.19 million) or 67 percent of the state’s sale went to that country.
The export volume of fibreboard also declined month-on-month to 16,383 cu m (RM32.54 million) from 18,530 cu m (RM36.1 million). Sarawak also exported laminated board, moulding, dowel, particle board and block board and other timber products.
In September, Sarawak exported RM3.08 million worth of furniture and furniture parts which was lower than RM3.899 million recorded in August.
The exports of wood chips soared to 60,429 cu m (RM30.69 million) from 7,500 cu m (RM2.65 million) in August.
