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Agricultural
Wood Products
Ekowood's stylish timber flooring
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With the Malaysian Government's application of the concept of sustainable forest management, the wood-product industry is expected to rise to 18 million cubic metres per annum. Key wood-based products are furniture, plywood, veneers and wood-based panels (fibreboard), with Malaysian furniture fetching a total export value of RM3.78mil in 2001. Major export markets are Singapore, Japan, Britain and the United States. Tax incentives are also being introduced to spur the development of forest plantations and replanting schemes. Many timber firms have also ventured into downstream-product manufacturing like furniture, fibre boards and mouldings. Efforts are also being made in undertaking activities in research and development, design initiatives and marketing.
Rubber Products
One of Top Glove's manufacturing plant producing rubber gloves
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Malaysia remains the world's leading producer and exporter of rubber-based downstream products like gloves, threads and catheters, despite having lost its position as the world's biggest producer of natural rubber. More than 190 countries imported rubber-based products from Malaysia (RM4.51bil worth) in 2001, leading buyers being the United States, Britain and Japan. Malaysia is currently ranked as the world's primary producer of rubber-based products, with control of 60% of the global rubber-glove market. Rubber-based downstream products are divided into two major categories: latex goods and industrial rubber goods. Latex goods include footwear, rubber gloves, latex thread, lifejackets, sealants, and catheters. Industrial rubber goods include tires, rubber gaskets, hoses, mats, tubes, mountings, rubber bearings, wipers and mud flaps.
Palm Oil Products
Malaysia is the world's largest producer and exporter of palm oil, with an estimated 17% share of total world output. Malaysia's palm oil exports for 2001 came up to RM11.2bil. Major export markets are Japan, China, India and the European Union. Edible palm oil-based products comprise a major sector of these exports, with products like cooking oil, margarine, vegetable ghee, shortening, creamers and specialty substitute fats. Industrial palm oil-based products comprise the other major portion of these exports, with substances like oleochemicals, fatty acids and glycerine all utilised to make finished products like soaps, candles, cosmetics and toiletries. Malaysia also possesses the most advanced and biggest capacity for the manufacturing of fatty acids and fatty alcohols. With an increasing global demand for natural oleochemical products, particularly food, detergents and cosmetics, the Malaysian Government will enhance its support for the palm-oil industry in the form of tax breaks and other incentives.
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Ethnicity
& Religion
