Malaysia 2005 timber exports to Qatar surged 96% to $13.1 million

May 17, 2006. /Lesprom Network/. Malaysia’s exports of timber products to Qatar is estimated to have risen by a whopping 96% to $13.1 million in 2005, based on figures recorded in the first three quarters of the year, ITTO reported quoting Malaysian Timber Council’s Dubai-based regional director, Dr. Eric Ng. Exports of wooden and rattan furniture to that country were estimated at $7.24 million, up 91% from 2004. Other top contributors to the rise in Malaysian timber exports to Qatar were MDF and plywood. Malaysia exported $2.01 million worth of MDF to Qatar from January to September last year, compared with $1.05 million throughout 2004. Exports of plywood from January to September 2005 were worth $1.03 million, compared with $500,000 in the whole of 2004. Final figures for 2005 are expected by the end of May. Last year’s exports of timber products from Malaysia to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates) are estimated at $272.4 million, up 13% from 2004. This constituted 73% of Malaysia’s total timber products exported to West Asia, including Jordan, Syria, Yemen and other smaller markets. The biggest GCC market for Malaysia was the UAE ($134.6 million worth of exports), followed by Saudi Arabia ($70.9 million) and Kuwait ($34 million).