Plantation timber production in Sabah passed one million m3 mark in 2011, acacia mangium accounting for 87%; Malaysian state's forestry director says Sabah on course towards sourcing wood primarily from plantations

Wendy Lisney

LOS ANGELES , April 3, 2012 (Industry Intelligence) – Production of plantation timber in Sabah, Malaysia, passed the 1 million m3 mark in 2011 at 1,234,777.75 m3, according to the state's forestry director Datuk Sam Mannan.

Mannan said total plantation timber production is up 141% from 2001, The Star reported on April 3. The most significant increase of 231% is in acacia mangium, making it the most significant plantation species produced over the last 10 years.

According to Mannan, acacia mangium accounted for 87% of total plantation timber production in 2011, followed by  Eucalyptus grandis (11%) Gmelina arborea (1%) and other species (1%). But he said utilization of rubberwood remains poor, despite extensive clearing of old rubber plantations for replanting.

The state's largest plantation timber producer, Sabah Forest Industries Sdn Bhd, accounted for 60% of production in 2011, the Sabah Forestry Development Authority (16%), Sabah Softwoods Bhd (12%) and Benta Wawasan Sdn Bhd (11%), said Mannan.

Log production from natural forests was approximately 2.6 million m3 last year, said Mannan, higher than plantation timber. But he noted that, if the current trend continues, the state will achieve its goal of making plantation timber the major source of raw materials for the timber industry.

The primary source of this article is The Star, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, on April 3, 2012.

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