The organiser expects that MIFF 2011 will exceed the sales and number of visitors recorded during MIFF 2010. Many furniture manufacturers seem to have recovered from the global economic crisis since 2010. In addition, worldwide demand for furniture is projected to grow by 8% to 10% in 2011.
MIFF 2010 chalked up sales of US$755 million, compared to US$710 million during MIFF 2009 and US$690 million during MIFF 2008. MIFF 2010 attracted some 20,000 visitors, of which 6,800 were from abroad. As with previous MIFF exhibitions, MIFF 2011 is endorsed by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Malaysian Furniture Promotion Council, Malaysian Timber Industry Board, Malaysian Timber Council, Malaysia External Trade Development Corp, Malaysian Tourism Promotion Board and the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia.
India emerges as top importer of Sarawak logs
From January to November 2010, Sarawak produced 9.27 million cu.m of logs compared to 10.4 million cu.m for the whole year of 2009. Log exports from Sarawak amounted to 3.68 million cu.m year-to-date November 2010, worth RM1.82 billion.
India was the largest importer of Sarawak logs with imports of 2.05 million cu.m valued at RM1.08 billion, followed by China with 547,000 cu.m worth RM234 million, and Taiwan PoC with 452,000 cu.m worth RM216 million.
Bullish prospects for plywood prices
Bad weather conditions and the impoundment of the Bakun hydroelectric dam continue to have an effect on log supply in Sarawak, pushing prices up. Concessionaires affected by this account for 20,000 cu.m to 30,000 cu.m of the log supply per month.
While exporters feel that the shortfall in log supply could push prices up by at least 30%, some analysts are of the opinion that the shortage is only temporal and will not have a long-term effect on prices. However, an analyst says that it is too early to speculate on the log supply situation in the long run.
Meanwhile, the Sarawak Timber Association expects plywood prices to gain 15% in 2011 following a 10% increase in 2010. Due to the log shortage, plywood mills in Sarawak have been forced to operate at 70% – 80% of the full capacity. There are currently 35 plywood mills in Sarawak with the total installed capacity of 4 million cu.m per year.
Exporters upbeat on recovery in traditional plywood markets
Plywood millers in Sarawak believe that the traditional plywood markets in Japan, Taiwan PoC and Republic of Korea are recovering and expect their order books to be full for the rest of the year.
From January to November 2010, wooden panel exports from Sarawak to Japan totalled 1.15 million cu.m valued at RM1.7 billion. The volume of wooden panel exports to Japan account for 50% of the total Sarawak production of 2.51 million cu.m worth RM3.43 billion in the period from January to November 2010.
The Republic of Korea is the second largest market for Sarawak wooden panel exports with imports of 465,000 cu.m valued at RM515 million year-to-date November 2010, while Sarawak wooden panel exports to Taiwan PoC amounted to 73,000 cu.m worth RM341 million.
Chinese Lunar New Year holidays brought business to a halt
Prices of Malaysian timber products remained stable as the Chinese Lunar New Year comes to an end. Most operators in the industry took a week long holiday for the celebration.
Malaysia Log Prices
Sarawak log, FOB | US$ per m³ |
Meranti SQ up | 248-273 |
Small
|
234-264 |
Super small
|
234-255 |
Keruing SQ up | 233-245 |
Small
|
221-249 |
Super small
|
206-232 |
Kapur SQ up | 224-250 |
Selangan Batu SQ up | 217-251 |
Pen. Malaysia logs, domestic (SQ) | US$ per m³ |
DR Meranti | 257-276 |
Balau | 312-341 |
Merbau | 341-373 |
Rubberwood | 90-124 |
Keruing | 233-249 |
Peninsular Malaysian meranti logs are top grade and are used for scantlings for the EU. Their prices are higher than Sarawaks. |
Malaysia Sawnwood Prices
Malaysia Sawnwood, FOB | US$ per m³ | |
DR
Meranti |
402-438 | |
White Meranti A & up |
294-324
|
|
Seraya Scantlings (75x125 KD) |
441-454
|
|
Sepetir Boards |
263-285
|
|
Sesendok 25,50mm |
353-371
|
|
Kembang Semangkok |
315-338
|
|
Malaysian Sawnwood, domestic |
US$ per m³
|
|
Balau (25&50mm,100mm+) |
333-353
|
|
Merbau |
465-517
|
|
Kempas 50mmx (75,100 & 125mm) |
270-310
|
|
Rubberwood | 25x75x660mm up |
226-276
|
50-75mm Sq. |
265-297
|
|
>75mm Sq. |
287-316
|
Malaysia Plywood Prices
Malaysia ply MR BB/CC, FOB | US$ per m³ |
2.7mm |
426-488 ⇑
|
3mm |
406-436 ⇑
|
9mm & up |
354-426 ⇑
|
Meranti ply BB/CC, domestic | US$ per m³ |
3mm
|
349-440 ⇑
|
12-18mm
|
332-361 ⇑
|
Other Malaysia Panel Prices
Malaysia, Other Panels, FOB | US$ per m³ |
Particleboard Export 12mm & up |
241-264
|
Domestic 12mm & up
|
229-246
|
MDF Export 15-19mm |
295-326
|
Domestic 12-18mm
|
285-303
|
Malaysia Added Value Product Prices
Malaysia, Mouldings, FOB | US$ per m³ |
Selagan Batu Decking |
554-565
|
Red Meranti Mouldings 11x68/92mm x 7ft up | |
Grade A
|
569-582
|
Grade B
|
523-533
|
Malaysia Furniture and Parts Prices
Malaysia, Rubberwood, FOB | US$ per piece | |
Semi-finished dining table solid laminated top 2.5'x4', extension leaf |
71-87
|
|
As above, Oak Veneer |
78-92
|
|
Windsor Chair |
70-72
|
|
Colonial Chair |
68-73
|
|
Queen Anne Chair (soft seat) | without arm |
69-76
|
with arm |
68-77
|
|
Chair Seat 27x430x500mm |
56-61
|
|
Rubberwood Tabletop | US$ per m³ | |
22x760x1220mm sanded & edge profiled | ||
Top Grade
|
607-637 | |
Standard
|
588-607 |