Malaysian furniture makers meet sales target amid sluggish economy

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 4 (Bernama) -- Malaysian furniture manufacturers have managed to meet the sales target that was set amidst a sluggish global economy, says the Malaysian Timber Council (MTC).

MTC, which maintains an annual presence at the China International Furniture Expo or Furniture China, set a sales target of RM40 million for the 18 Malaysian furniture manufacturers who exhibited at what is deemed as the third largest furniture fair in the world.

The manufacturers raked in confirmed and potential sales of RM40.03 million at the trade fair which was held at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre in Pudong, Shanghai, China, from 8 to 11 September 2016.

“We are not immune to the current economic climate but staying focused on market trends and meeting its needs have always been our goal,” said MTC Chief Executive Officer Datuk Dr Abdul Rahim Nik. Last year, MTC’s Malaysia Pavilion recorded potential and confirmed sales worth RM36.05 million.

Abdul Rahim added that MTC had intensified its publicity efforts in Shanghai to draw more visitors to MTC’s Pavilion at the expo to help the manufacturers where six of the 18 were exhibiting for the first time with MTC. The first-timers secured 39% of the sales or RM15.60 million.

Since last year, MTC began organizing group participations to enable Malaysian furniture manufacturers to collectively display their products at Furniture China.

Malaysia and China have always enjoyed healthy trade ties and the pledge of achieving US$160 billion in bilateral trade by 2017 has further magnified efforts from the business sectors of both nations.

China has been in the top 10 of the major export market for Malaysia in the last five years. In 2015, Malaysia’s total export of timber and timber products, including furniture to China was RM1.9 billion or 3.7% of the export pie.
 

About the Malaysian Timber Council
The Malaysian Timber Council (MTC) was established in January 1992 to promote the development and growth of the Malaysian timber industry globally. MTC's main objectives are to promote the Malaysian timber trade and develop the market for timber products globally, to promote the development of the industry by upgrading the industry's manufacturing technology base, to augment the supply of raw materials, to provide information services and to protect and improve the Malaysian timber industry's global image. Further information on the Council’s activities can be obtained from www.mtc.com.my.

Source : Malaysian Timber Council 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name : Alexis Chang
Corporate Communications Division
Tel : 03-92811999
Email : alexis@mtc.com.my

Name : Vijayalakshmi Kasinathan
Corporate Communications Division
Tel :  03-9281 1999
Email : vijaya@mtc.com.my

--BERNAMA