Malaysia’s trade with China grows 25.1% by value in 2007
Based on 2007 statistics from China’s Customs Agency, China is one of Malaysia’s top ten trading partners, reported The Daily Express. Ahmed Aziz, a member of the Board of Directors of the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), commented that Malaysia’s total trade with China reached USD46.4 billion, a rise of 25.1% from 2006 levels. Malaysia’s exports rose 21.89%, reaching USD28.4 billion last year. According to Aziz, Malaysia’s exports USD500-600 million worth of timber products to China annually.
Malaysian property development industry grappling with rising costs
The Star reported that the Malaysian property development industry is getting nervous as oil prices continue to soar. Rising prices of building materials, inflationary trends in the cost of living, global economic uncertainties, rigid policies for developers and a softening market are also concerning the industry. Property developers are also facing eroding profit markets, higher construction costs, intense competition and fear that rising inflation is affecting buyers’ sentiment. Many contractors are demanding an upward revision of their contact prices and threatening to walk if their demands are not met.
Malaysia Log Prices
| Sarawak log, FOB | US$ per m³ |
| Meranti SQ up | 296-318 ⇑ |
|
Small
|
274-295 ⇑ |
|
Super small
|
274-272 ⇑ |
| Keruing SQ up | 272-282 ⇑ |
|
Small
|
241-273 ⇑ |
|
Super small
|
234-239 ⇑ |
| Kapur SQ up | 250-268 ⇑ |
| Selangan Batu SQ up | 272-294 |
| Pen. Malaysia logs, domestic (SQ) | US$ per m³ |
| DR Meranti | 356-399 ⇑ |
| Balau | 296-326 ⇑ |
| Merbau | 416-438 ⇑ |
| Rubberwood | 254-273 ⇑ |
| Keruing | 286-302 |
| Peninsular Malaysian meranti logs are top grade and are used for scantlings for the EU. Their prices are higher than Sarawaks. | |
Malaysia Sawnwood Prices
| Malaysia Sawnwood, FOB | US$ per m³ | |
| White Meranti A & up |
432-457
|
|
| Seraya Scantlings (75x125 KD) |
706-746 ⇑
|
|
| Sepetir Boards |
336-346 ⇑
|
|
| Sesendok 25,50mm |
447-477
|
|
| Kembang Semangkok |
428-449
|
|
| Malaysian Sawnwood, domestic |
US$ per m³
|
|
| Balau (25&50mm,100mm+) |
349-369 ⇑
|
|
| Merbau |
559-582
|
|
| Kempas 50mmx (75,100 & 125mm) |
298-315 ⇑
|
|
| Rubberwood | 25x75x660mm up |
292-322 ⇑
|
| 50-75mm Sq. |
313-338
|
|
| >75mm Sq. |
325-357
|
|
Malaysia Plywood Prices
| Malaysia ply MR BB/CC, FOB | US$ per m³ |
| 2.7mm |
482-510
|
| 3mm |
462-488
|
| 9mm & up |
423-446
|
| Meranti ply BB/CC, domestic | US$ per m³ |
|
3mm
|
460-470
|
|
12-18mm
|
403-411
|
Other Malaysia Panel Prices
| Malaysia, Other Panels, FOB | US$ per m³ |
| Particleboard Export 12mm & up |
242-259 ⇑
|
|
Domestic 12mm & up
|
233-247 ⇑
|
| MDF Export 15-19mm |
306-329
|
|
Domestic 12-18mm
|
281-300
|
Malaysia Added Value Product Prices
| Malaysia, Mouldings, FOB | US$ per m³ |
| Selagan Batu Decking |
681-699
|
| Red Meranti Mouldings 11x68/92mm x 7ft up | |
|
Grade A
|
717-737
|
|
Grade B
|
635-653
|
Malaysia Furniture and Parts Prices
| Malaysia, Rubberwood, FOB | US$ per piece | |
| Semi-finished dining table solid laminated top 2.5'x4', extension leaf |
61-77
|
|
| As above, Oak Veneer |
68-82
|
|
| Windsor Chair |
59-61
|
|
| Colonial Chair |
55-63
|
|
| Queen Anne Chair (soft seat) | without arm |
55-66 ⇑
|
| with arm |
56-67
|
|
| Chair Seat 27x430x500mm |
43-49 ⇑
|
|
| Rubberwood Tabletop | US$ per m³ | |
| 22x760x1220mm sanded & edge profiled | ||
|
Top Grade
|
635-645 | |
|
Standard
|
603-620 | |