Export of plywood by peninsular Malaysia to European union for the year 2001 and 2003 / Ahmad Hasrul Mohamad

Plywood is the one of the wood-based product that is produced by the plywood mills in Peninsular Malaysia about half century ago. Plywood is the wood based panel that has for a long time being in the market. Its use is not specific, but ranges from the construction industry to the material for the furniture making. The number of plywood mills in Peninsular Malaysia has decreased from year to year that is 19 mills in 1990 to 34 mills in 1999. This study was conducted to know the export of plywood by Peninsular Malaysia to European Union for the year 2001 and 2003. The study also includes the market export condition of Europe for plywood by Peninsular Malaysia and the increase and decrease of price per volume of plywood in European Union market for the year 2001 and 2003. From the study, it shows that the demand of plywood in European market has decrease from the year 2001 and 2003. The increase of plywood price for the year 2003 and competition from other product contributed to this decrease. For the year 2001 Peninsular Malaysia has exported plywood to European Union for RM 1,222.90 per meter cubic, but for the year 2003 the price was RM 1,392.60 per meter cubic. For the export of plywood the total decreased from 63,427 cubic meters in 2001 to 58,258 cubic meters in 2003. The average export price of plywood (4 x 8 feet) in 2001 is RM11.50 for 4 mm thickness, RM18.15 for 6 mm thickness, RM26.95 for 9 mm thickness and RM33 for 12 mm thickness. In 2003 the average local price of plywood (4 x 8 feet) for 4 mm and 12 mm thickness was increase to RM13.21 for 4 mm thickness and RM34.51 for 12 mm thickness. For the plywood of 6 mm and 9 mm thickness the price was decreased to RM16.75 for 6 mm thickness and RM25.08 for 9 mm thickness. Although the new raw material i.e. rubber wood had been used but it cannot support the production of plywood. Competitors from the other wood-based product like medium density fiberboard (MDF) and particleboard is the among the main factors for the decreasing export trend of this industry.