Mah: Consider oil palm trunk for furniture industry
KUALA LANGAT: Oil palm trunk is an ideal alternative source of raw materials in the timber and furniture industry, said Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong.
The Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister said that with ample oil palm plantations, Malaysia has the competitive advantage of being the first mover or early adopter worldwide to utilise oil palm trunk (OPT) in producing wood and valued-added biocomposite products.
Mah said there were 5.7 million hectares of oil palm estates undergoing replanting process after 25 years.
“Every year, there are between 80,000ha and 100,000ha of oil palm estates available for harvesting and replanting.
“From replanting, we produce 18 million trunks every year that can be used to make furniture.
“This will lessen the country’s high dependence – about 80% – on hard timber such as rubber wood and other tropical wood ,” he said after opening the Fibre and Biocomposite Centre (Fidec 3) and furniture durability testing laboratory at the Olak Lempit furniture complex in Banting yesterday.
Fidec 3 is an initiative of the Malaysian Timber Industry Board (MTIB) to provide processing facilities and testing services to the industry and also higher learning institutions, as well as aiding in the commercialisation of fibre and biocomposite products.
Mah said the 7,432sq m Fidec 3, which cost RM13.3mil, would attract more industry players to explore more biocomposite products at the local and global markets.
Last year, biocomposite products, comprising plywood, chipboard, fibreglass and wood plastic composites contributed RM6.3bil, which was 29% of the total RM22.1bil export value of the national timber industry.
“The timber industry is facing a shortage in raw materials and high price of the rubber wood.
“So, OPT is a good alternative,” he said, adding that technology has improved OPT’s moist level, making it more versatile and durable.
He said more timber industry players should opt to use OPT, adding that there were currently five companies producing plywood and veneer from OPT for export to Iran and Turkey.
Mah also said that the Government was working on the OPT Development Plan, which is expected to be finalised early next year.
“The plan will contain detailed action and implementation of all programmes and activities under the OPT in the country,” he added.
On the European Union action to impose a ban on the import of palm oil to the region, Mah said Malaysia would continue to fight against the move with Indonesia.
“We will take the matter to the World Trade Organisation, if necessary,” he said.