Malaysia’s primary industries minister has called on his country’s timber industry to rethink its marketing outlook in view of stiff global competition and increasing regulation.
Datuk Anifah Aman, speaking following the launch of the Malaysian Timber Council‘s Marketing Seminar 2003 – ‘Timber Industry – The Changing Landscape’, said manufacturers and exporters need to find ways to combat competition from low-cost producers such as China and Vietnam, as well as activity by New Zealand, Russia and Brazil.
Mr Aman also said Japan’s new regulations on formaldehyde emissions and CE marking in the EU posed “serious implications” to the Malaysian timber industry.
However, he announced that timber exports were expected to rise during the third and fourth quarters, picking up from a second quarter affected by the impact of the Iraq war and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.
