KOTA BHARU (Sept 22): The Malaysian Timber Industry Board (MTIB) is aiming for timber exports to hit RM28 billion by 2025, its chairman Datuk Hishamuddin Abdul Karim said.

He said this is in line with the National Timber Agrocommodity Policy launched by the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities, with support from the National Timber Industry Strategic Plan 2021-2025.

"Empowering the development of the country's timber industry will always be a priority for MTIB when facing current issues and challenges, including issues related to raw material resources, manpower, shipping, production costs, and productivity.

"To ensure that the domestic sales target can reach RM20 billion in 2025, MTIB is now actively promoting the use of wood in the local market via promotional campaigns in the mass media, participating in exhibitions, and organising exhibitions such as the Wood & Lifestyle Fair, which the MTIB started branding since 2016," he told reporters after officiating at the 2022 Eastern Region Wood & Lifestyle Fair here on Thursday (Sept 22).

Commenting further, Hishamuddin said the export value of the country's timber products in 2021 recorded a 3% growth to RM22.74 billion against RM22.07 billion in 2020.

For January to June this year, the country's timber industry recorded a 14% rise in exports to RM13.2 billion versus RM11.6 billion for the same period in 2021.