Plywood makers may see rebound in exports to Japan

A worker conducting quality control tests at a coated plywood line plant in Sibu.

KUCHING: Malaysian plywood manufacturers, which have been badly hit by the sharp drop in exports to its key market Japan over the past two years, will likely see a trend reversal this year.

Reconstruction activities, following the massive damages done to infrastructure, residential homes and other properties during the recent Hagibis typhoon, are expected to spur demand for tropical hardwood, of which Malaysia is a key supplier.