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12   MARKET BEATS                                                                  JAN/FEB 2026 FDM ASIA | www.fdmasia.com






          said the GTI-Indonesia report, based on information provided   industry. Heavy rainfall slowed log transportation, and there
          by the GTI-Indonesia Focal Point.                  was a shortage of raw materials, particularly red meranti.
            Indonesia’s primary export markets for wood panel products   Other challenges include unstable global market conditions for
          are the US, Japan and South Korea, followed by Malaysia,   plywood products, which tended to be sluggish, an insufficient
          the UK and China.                                  number of plantation workers, and an unstable fuel supply.
            Indonesia maintains its competitiveness in the global   To address or mitigate these challenges, enterprises called

          market due to: sustainably and legally sourced timber, ensured   on the authorities to revise regulations related to the export of
          through the PHPL/SILK certification  system; stable product   forestry products, particularly restrictions on types related to
          quality and a wide selection of workable species; compliance   cross-sectional area provisions, to support the sustainability
          with international technical and environmental standards; and   of upstream and downstream sectors.
          long-standing commercial relationships with construction and   Policy incentives, they said, are needed to increase the
          industrial buyers in major markets.                absorption of wood in the domestic market and to seek new
            On export performance, the report said Indonesia’s   markets for Indonesian wood products abroad.
          woodworking products, including mouldings, joinery and   “Policies are needed to ensure a continuous supply of raw
          engineered components, are primarily exported to China,   materials for the industry. A strong role of the government in

          Australia and Japan.                               international trade is needed to enhance the competitiveness
            Demand  for these products remains resilient owing  to   of wood products and forest commodities. Marketing in other
          Indonesia’s strong capacity for customised production, favourable   countries should be expanded with government support,”
          pricing relative to regional competitors, and a secure supply   they added.
          base of certified plantation timber.                  The enterprises also suggested that, to meet annual
            Indonesia’s wood furniture exports are predominantly shipped   logging  plan  targets,  wood  production  could  be maximised
          to the US, Belgium and Brazil, with additional growth observed   during dry weather periods.

          in secondary markets across Europe and the Asia Pacific.  To reduce equipment breakdowns, they called for
            Indonesia’s furniture sector benefits from high craftsmanship   strengthening preventive maintenance and operator training,
          and design adaptability, a reputation for quality materials and   establishing partnerships with multiple suppliers and maintaining
          sustainable sourcing, and the ability to serve both high-volume   critical spare parts, implementing fuel efficiency measures and
          retail chains and premium niche buyers.            exploring alternative energy sources, as well as diversifying
            In the first six months of 2025, Indonesia’s furniture   market channels and securing long-term contracts to mitigate
          exports  generated  revenue  of  US$920  million, with  the  US   wood price fluctuations.
          remaining the largest export destination, accounting for 54.6   In November 2025, the GTI-Indonesia index registered
          percent of the total.                              49.1 percent, below the critical value of 50 percent for the

            However,  the  Indonesian  government  acknowledged  the   second consecutive month, indicating that business prosperity
          need to develop new strategies to tap into non-traditional   among the leading timber enterprises represented by the index
          markets,  such  as  Eastern  Europe,  the  Middle  East,  Latin   declined from the previous month.
          America, India and Japan.                             Despite the overall contraction on the supply side among
            GTI-Indonesia enterprises reported several key challenges   the sampled enterprises, both domestic and international
          in November 2025, notably low log prices in the domestic   market demand demonstrated growth during the month
          market due to weak demand from the timber processing   under review.
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