Status of medium density fiberboard (MDF) plant in Malaysia from 1990 to 1999 / Lizman Mat Suandi

The consumption of wood rate in Malaysia is very high. This is because of wood base panel industry was started since years ago. One of the wood base panel industry in Malaysia is Medium density fiberboard (MDF). MDF started to commercial in 1989 by Takeuchi MDF Sdn. Bhd. which the first MDF mills in Malaysia. The establishment of MDF mill followed by Hume Fiberboard. Evergreen Fiberboard Sdn. Bhd. (1993), Merbok MDF Sdn. Bhd. and Daiken Sarawak Sdn. Bhd. in 1994, Guthrie MDF Sdn. Bhd. and Robin MDF Sdn. Bhd. in 1996 and in 1997 Golden Hope MDF and T.H.S Fiberboard were established. Until 1999, Malaysia has a 9 MDF plant. Suitability of rubberwood for MDF making was the main factor in development of MDF industry in Malaysia All the MDF mills in Peninsular Malaysia were used rubberwood for their raw material. Today the rubberwood is the important resources for the MDF manufacturing This source will be decrease if replanting species process did not be practice. The existing alternative raw material for MDF mills in Malaysia was oil palm fibers. Oil palm fibers had the potential to substitute rubberwood for MDF industry. From this situation MDF industry will be maintain and develop in Malaysia.