KL plywood exporters to target W. Asia

KL plywood exporters to target W. Asia

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia yesterday told its timber
exporters to penetrate new markets in West Asia and South Africa
ahead of the withdrawal by Europe and the United States of
preferential privileges for its exports.

From January 1997, Malaysia is expected to graduate from the
U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP).

This will be followed a year later by the graduation of
Malaysian wood products from the European Union GSP, Primary
Industries Minister Lim Keng Yaik said.

"It is important that exporters be more resilient and
efficient in their production as well as intensify efforts to
penetrate other markets such as West Asia and South Africa," Lim
said at a dinner organized by the Malaysian Panel Manufacturers
Association.

The government will provide support by spearheading
promotional missions to seek new markets.

Malaysia is now a major supplier of plywood in the world,
second to Indonesia. Both countries compete in almost similar
markets overseas.

Malaysia's plywood exports have risen to 3.34 million cubic
meters last year -- from less than a million cubic meters before
1990 -- or an increase of 11.2 percent over 1994 in terms of
volume.

Asia was the biggest importer of Malaysian plywood taking up
89 percent of total volume exported last year.

Exports to Japan, which emerged as the largest single importer
last year to replace China, soared 93 percent to 1.01 million
cubic meters valued at 1.1 billion ringgit.