The Malaysian arm of German pencil manufacturer Staedtler is expanding its forest plantation venture to ensure a steady supply of jelutong timber.
The company, which uses 10,000 tonnes of the wood every year to produce 100 million pencils, is currently talking to a Sabah company about undertaking forest plantation in the state.
Staedtler is investing about M$500,000 in plantation ventures, which it started in 2001 with 20ha in Kemasul. Last year the Pahang state government earmarked 2,000ha for the company to plant jelutong and other species.
