Apr 08, 2013. /Lesprom Network/. Sarawak, Malaysia, timber exports in 2012 totalled RM 7.46 billion ($2.39 billion), a 5% increase on levels in 2011. Plywood made up 53% of total exports, logs just 24% and sawntimber 11%. Japan remained the state’s biggest buyer of wood products accounting for 38% of all exports in 2012, ITTO reports.

Log production in 2012 was 9.5 million cubic metres, down from 9.6 million cubic metres in 2011. In the first two months of 2013, Sarawak produced 1.2 million cubic metres of logs.

Indicative export prices for Sarawak 2.7mm MR, BB/CC plywood are $550 per cubic metre FOB while for 9 mm and up plywood panels the price is $430-450 per cubic metre.

FOB export prices of Sarawak logs in March were as follows: meranti SQ $250 – 265 per cubic metre, kapur SQ $340 – 360 per cubic metre, keruing SQ $300 – 315 per cubic metre, selangan batu regular $500 – 540 per cubic metre.

Log prices in Sabah and Sarawak are steadily moving higher as the availability of logs for export in the two states has declined because of poor weather conditions and because of active buying by local plywood plants and sawmills.

Buyers from India and China are chasing Sabah and Sarawak logs as the availability of logs from Papua New Guinea has reportedly fallen.