Awang Tengah: Sarawak's Q1 2025 timber exports reach RM625 mln, plywood leads

Borneo Post

28-05-2025

KUCHING (May 28): The export value of Sarawak's timber industry for the first quarter (Q1) of 2025 reached RM625 million, with plywood contributing RM317 million, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.
The Second Natural Resources and Urban Development Minister said this marked an increase of four per cent compared to RM305 million for the same period last year.
He said Japan remained the top importer with RM359 million, followed by India with RM85 million, Middle Eastern countries (RM77 million), China (RM21 million) and the Philippines (RM20 million).
'In line with technological developments, the Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) is also working closely with the Malaysian Timber Council (MTC) through the TimbeReality.my platform to promote and market timber products through digital platforms.
'To strengthen STIDC's regulatory role, the State Cabinet has approved the Sarawak Timber Industry (Licensing) Regulations 2025.
'In this regard, STIDC has developed the Timber Industry Regulatory and Compliance System (TRACE) to improve service efficiency in line with digital transformation initiatives,' he said in his ministerial winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Sitting today.
He also said that STIDC is targeting no less than 30,000 hectares for bamboo cultivation by 2030.
'As of April 2025, approximately 4,900 hectares of area had been planted by 17 commercial companies and 200 participants from the community.
'This bamboo yield is important as an alternative source of raw materials,' he said.
Awang Tengah said STIDC had also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) last year with the Malaysian Community Care Foundation Resources Sdn Bhd, Bintulu Port Holdings Berhad, Pertama Ferroalloys Sdn Bhd and the Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) targeting a bamboo planting area of ​​10,000 hectares.
'To further strengthen this industry, several local and international companies have already shown interest in investing in the downstream industry to produce high-value bamboo-based products such as tissue paper, packaging materials, textiles and biochar,' he said.