The first products to be exported to the UK by West Malaysian exporter Lionex are due to arrive by the end of September/start of October.
Trial loads of rough sawn meranti in random sizes will arrive first, followed by sapele in November.
Lionex’s new European sales director Frank Teeuwen said the company had been traditionally strong in the Netherlands, France, Italy and Austria, but a wider sales campaign, starting with the UK and Ireland was now under way.
“Our goal is to be a major player on the UK market for sapele and meranti,” said Mr Teeuwen.
Lionex, a US$60m turnover business owned by Dutch company DPW van Stolk Holding, sources meranti from Sabah while sapele is imported to Malaysia from Africa and then kiln-dried and re-graded.
Mr Teeuwen said the increased takeup of laminated timber for joinery products was also something Lionex was looking to tap into.
While joinery manufacturers are expected to be the biggest users of Lionex timber products, the company also wants to access UK DIY outlets, via distributors.
