BASELINE STUDY 5, Thailand - Forest Trends

Sawnwood continues to be Thailand's largest solid wood import (i.e. excluding pulp and paper), standing at 2.3
million m 3 RWE, and 74% by solid wood volume in 2009. The sawnwood trade (both import and export) is of
considerable magnitude for Thailand, as it accounts for 90% of the total solid wood product imports and 54% of
total exports (FAO 2009:58). About two-thirds of overall sawnwood consumption is imported, and this is used
mostly in the construction industry (FAO 2009:57). The export-oriented wood furniture industry also relies upon
sawnwood and log imports, mainly teak from Myanmar, although the volumes imported are much lower.
Wood imports dramatically increased in the early 2000s and currently remain relatively stable by volume, with
a sharper decline in the value of exports with the global slowdown in 2009.
Figure 23. Thailand Timber Imports (excluding Pulp and Paper) by Value
(US$ million)
Source: European Forestry Institute, as compiled by James Hewitt, 2010.
The value of Thai imports increased between 2000 and 2008, (from US$380 million in 2000 to $720 million in
2008). There was a significant decrease in the value of wood imports in 2009 however, dropping to less than
US$500 million, with the mixture of imported goods remaining in relative proportion.
5.1.1 Imports from Malaysia
Thailand has been importing 1.5 to 2 million m 3 RWE of sawnwood from Malaysia since 2006, with significantly
higher imports earlier in the decade. Based on author interviews with Myanmar timber traders in Yangon, Thai
timber traders in Bangkok, and Thai RFD officials (June-July, 2010), it would appear that a substantial amount of
wood imported from Malaysia, depending on the species, could be Myanmar natural timber, especially teak.
Since the Myanmar timber is exported via Yangon to Malaysia, this would be deemed ‘legal’ trade by government
officials in both Myanmar and Malaysia. Once this timber arrives in Malaysia, interview sources suggested,
the Myanmar timber might be able to receive a certificate of origin as being a product of Malaysia, and then
could possibly be re-exported to other countries such as Thailand.
© EU FLEGT Facility, BASELINE STUDY 5, Thailand: Overview of Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade, July 2011
This Action is funded by the European Union and the governments of Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK. The views expressed herein
can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Union.
www.euflegt.efi.int
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