Sustainable forest management, ample supplies of renewable timber from its forest plantations, trained labour and up-to-date technologies have enabled Malaysia to carve out a substantial export business in wood-based products such as furniture, veneers and plywood. Currently, Malaysian furniture is widely accepted in major markets such as the USA, Japan and the UK. Apart from furniture, products like sawntimber, veneers and plywood, mouldings and joinery, and reconstituted wood-based panels have also made inroads into more than 140 markets throughout the world. Malaysia's largest export markets for wood-based products are Japan, USA and People's Republic of China.

Furniture
Abundant timber supply, automated processes and trained workers have made Malaysia a major supplier in the global furniture market. Best-selling made-in-Malaysia furniture consists of living room, kitchen, bedroom and office items.

Other Wood-Based Products
Malaysian wood-based products are widely utilised in the global construction and building industries. The most popular items are:

• Veneers and plywood
• Sawn timber
• Mouldings and joinery. Moulded products include components for the production of door and window frames, handrails, banisters, curtain rods, and dowels. Joinery products include doors, window frames and flooring.
• Reconstituted wood-based panels, which includes items like fibreboard, and medium density board.
  

Developments
Traditionally, Malaysia has been a location of choice for OEM furniture manufacturers. Nevertheless, Malaysia is now moving to ODM manufacturing. They are upgrading to the production of higher value-added furniture incorporating indigenous design and better finishing. These products are penetrating upmarket segments in developed markets such as the US, the UK and Japan.

Malaysia is also showcasing home-grown brands, some of which have already chalked up export
success, such as sofa specialist Fella Design, Kian Furniture and bendwood furniture pioneer, Litako. Isotop exports of fibreboard furniture, have also been accepted widely overseas as being comparable in quality to solid wood furniture. Malaysian manufacturers are putting RM300 million annually into total productivity measures aimed at increasing the quality and international competitiveness of wood-based products. These include investments in efficient new technologies, skills retraining and cost-cutting measures.

Standards
The timber industry benchmarks its activities according to worldwide logging and forest preservation standards set by bodies such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), of which Malaysia is a member. The National Timber Certification Council is planning and developing a voluntary national timber certification scheme to provide assurance to buyers that wood-based products have been sourced from sustainably managed forests. Most manufacturing plants are certified to ISO9002 standards, ensuring the worldwide acceptability of local wood products.The industry is also moving to adopt ISO14000 standards.

Contacts

The Malaysian Timber Council (MTC)
Tel : 603-9281 1999
Fax: 603-9282 8999
E-mail : council@mtc.com.my
Website : www.mtc.com.my

The Malaysian Timber Industry Board (MTIB)
Tel: 603-9282 2235
Fax: 603-9285 1477
Email : info@mtib.gov.my
Website : www.mtib.gov.my

Malaysian Furniture Industry Council (MFIC)
Tel: 603-9282 2333
Fax: 603-9286 2296
E-mail: mfic@po.jaring.my

Malaysian Panel-Products Manufacturers' Association
Tel: 603-9287 2152
Fax: 603-9281 1985
E-mail: mpma@tm.net.my

Malaysian Wood Moulding and Joinery Council
Tel: 603-9283 7893
Fax: 603-9284 4129
E-mail: jomoco@tm.net.my

The Timber Exporters' Association of Malaysia
Tel: 603-9284 7443 / 7445
Fax: 603-9282 6059
E-mail: ppkm@tm.net.my

National Timber Certification Council Malaysia
Tel : 603-9200 5008
Fax : 603-9200 6008
E-mail : ntcc@tm.net.my

Association of Malaysian Bumiputra Timber & Furniture Entrepreneurs
Tel : 603-2070 5213
Fax : 603-2070 5297
E-mail : peka@tm.net.my