Indonesia: Verified legal timber exports continue to grow

Tri Nugroho, Director of the Multi-stakeholder Forestry Programme Phase 4 (MFP4) has said exports from Indonesia have moved in line with global market trends for verified legal wood products and that Indonesia’s verified legal timber exports continues to grow with the biggest markets being China, Japan, the United States and the European Union.

China accounted for almost 30% of Indonesia’s exports of wood products in 2019 followed by Japan (12%), the United States (11%), the European Union (9%). Other significant markets were South Korea, Malaysia, Australia and Vietnam. 

China’s new laws on buying, processing and transporting illegal wood products should give a boost to Indonesia’s exporters said Tri. He believes there is an opportunity for Indonesian furniture makers to secure greater market share in those countries looking for verified legal wood products, he said the main competition in international markets for wooden furniture comes from Vietnam and China.

Iwan Wibisono, Programme Manager for the MFP4 said Indonesia’s timber legality verification system (SVLK) is playing an important role in ensuring that harvesting is well managed and sustainable.

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