The Further Processing of Tropical Timber in THAILAND*
Somchai Benjachaya**
I. Introduction
In the past, the people wasted forest resources profusely without aware of any
environmental effect. But at present, the world was roused to aware of this matter, especially
the effect from forest resources destruction. Forests is a place for tourism and recreation,
genetic bank of bio-resources and water absorption, for the direct profit it provide wood and
non-wood products. However, the trend of world wood consumption will be grow higher in
this century. The better understanding in environmental and forest resources especially the
property of wood such as renewable, reuseable, recycleable, decomposable, less energy
consumption and carbon sink.
From Agenda 21 of the UN earth summit in 1992 at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil agreed that
every country has to conserve the natural forests together with expand the economic forest
areas. Particularly, the tropical countries, because the tropical forest take the important role in
carbon sequenstering to reduce global warming.
Thailand is the tropical country, situated in the southeast asia monsoon zone which its
forests rich of natural diversity : Tropical mountain evergreen forest, Coniferous forest,
Mixed deciduous forest, and Dry dipterocarp forest in the northern and northeastern region,
Mixed deciduous forest in the central region, Mangrove forest in the coastal area and Tropical
moist evergreen forest, Mangrove forest and Swamp forest in the southern region. (Figure 1,
Table 1)
Since the last century, Thailand had the forest areas covered half of the country area.
Thailand was one of the world wood export country, the well known wood was “Siam Teak”
(Tectona grandis Linn.) or “Golden Teak” in present name. When the decreasing of forests
areas affected to the environmental, The government promulgated a total ban on logging over
the country in 1989. Thus, Thailand have to import wood and wood products in a large
quantity, continually. In 1999 Thailand’s total import quantity of log, sawntimber, wood
products, pulp and paper was approximately $ 800 million which decreased from the early
time after revoked the lease timber which higher than $ 1,300 million. These products was
exported for approximately $ 1,300 million which higher than in the year 1995 two times.
(Table 2, 3) (Data Center Division, 1999)
The government of Thailand attempt to rehabilitate the forest resources. The National
Forest Policy determined that Thailand will be covered by 40 % of total land area 51,311,502
hectares, but the present forest area is only 25.28 % remaining, thus have to reforest for 14.72
% or 7,553,053 hectares. (Table 4)
For the last 10 years, after the strong promotion, Rubberwood became the important
raw materials instead of wood from natural forest. The first objective for Rubberwood
planting is for latex but it will be cut down when giving a few latex quantity. Each year a
large number of Rubberwood was cut. The Rubberwood is easily damaged by insects and
fungus but the wood industry researcher succeeded in wood preservation and apply the
* Workshop on Further Processing of Tropical Timber in the Asia-Pacific Region, International Tropical Timber Organization
(ITTO), Seoul, Korea, 28 August – 1 September 2001.
** Technical Forest Officer
Forest Products R & D Division, Forest Research Office, Royal Forest Department.
61 Phaholyothin Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900 THAILAND, e-mail : benjachaya@hotmail.com
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research to use in the wood industry, especially in furniture manufacturing. Because of the
colour of Rubberwood is white and continually exported from Thailand, the world market
called it “White Teak”.
In Thailand, Eucalyptus sp. which imported from Australia is one of the important
wood which used in pulp and paper industry. Eucalyptus is the fast growing tree which can
grow in every soil condition and climate in Thailand. Eucalyptus at the age of 3 years old can
give pulp for produce paper. However, the other kind of wood from plantation can be used in
wood industry, particularly Teak will be the important raw materials again in the near future.
The technology of Thailand’s wood industry is equal as the world wood industry.
Because its own nearly every kind of wood industry and rich of the diversity and quantity of
raw materials. Since the investment promoted in the past, Thailand can produce and export
the wood products to the world market for a large quantity.
II. Forest Resources
The important source of wood utilization in Thailand divided in 3 sources as follows :
1. Natural forest
In the past, Thailand exported logs from the natural forest, after the decreasing of
forest areas, the government feel anxious in environment, therefore used the measure to ban
on logging and enhanced timber import and use the tariff measurement to slow the timber
export since 1977. For the event of floods and a landslide in the southern of Thailand that
claimed hundreds of lives in late 1988, prompted the government to introduce a complete ban
on logging in 1989. (except the mangrove concession which used Rhizophora sp. for charcoal
production). It is the cause that nearly all wood from every sources of country cannot be
export or use domestically which a timber lease investor accused the damaged cost from the
government, the wood industry investor have to import wood from aboard. At the beginning,
imported wood from the neighbouring countries such as Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and
Indonesia and from other countries in Africa and South America.
2. Rubberwood plantation
Thailand has an area of Rubberwood plantation for the second ranking of the
world from Indonesia (Indonesia has 2.4 million hectares, Thailand 1.9 million hectares, and
Malaysia 1.6 million hectares). The proposed of Rubberwood planting is for latex. (Thailand
export latex 2 million tons/year, the world’s first ranking) planting in the southern 85 %, the
country’s east coast 13 %, and the northeastern 2 %. At present, the government promote to
plant more Rubberwood in the northeastern.
The Rubberwood will give standard latex only for 25 years and have to be cutting
for replanting. Thus, the government supported by setting the Rubberwood Replanting Aid
Fund which pay for 6,800 baht/rai* ($ 944.44 per hectare) for replanting. In each year the
target to cut down is 36,800 hectares which gave wood 140 cu.m./hectare, but the total to be
used 70 % and appropriated for furniture production only 33.5 %, 12 % for pole, and 53 % is
the lapwood and woodfuel. (Forest Research Office, 1998)
The industry use the Rubberwood to produce furniture, toys, particleboard,
medium density fiberboard (MDF), parquet, frame, and kitchenware as to produce pole, spool
of electric or telephone wire, crated fish, fuelwood and charcoal. The furniture industry used
* 45 baht = $ 1, 6.25 rai = 1 hectare
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Rubberwood as raw materials for 65 %, 16 particleboard factories of 19 factories and 4 MDF
factories of 6 factories used Rubberwood as raw materials. (Table 5, 6) (Oonjittichai, 1995,
1998)
3. Forest Plantation
3.1 Eucalyptus
3.1.1 Eucalyptus from the government project
The government proceeded the forest plantation for wood industry after
the promulgated of Forest Plantation Act 1992. Eucalyptus plantation was started in the
project to adjust the structure of farmer’s production for the farmer to plant fast growing tree
for example Eucalyptus, KraTinTaPa (Acacia sp.), etc instead of 4 economic crops : Rice,
Cassava, Coffee, and Pepper (which always faced the lower price problem and pest infected).
The government provide seedling, and chemical fertilizer 20 kg./rai (125 kg./hectare). The
planting achieved the target of 108,800 hectares during 1994-1996 but when faced the
problem on Eucalyptus combating that it will destroy the ecosystem, thus from this mentioned
matter, the procedure was stopped. But Eucalyptus was enhanced to plant, nevertheless, not
more than half of the Economic Forest Plantation Extension Project area.
3.1.2 Eucalyptus by the private sector’s industry
The wood industry investor especially in producing pulp and paper
know about the raw materials, which can control by himself. There are two groups in
Thailand : first, the Kaset Rungrueng Perchpol Group which hold business in crops trading
such as Rice, Cassava, and Corn, compose with 2 branches : Agro Line Co.,Ltd. for
Eucalyptus planting of 32,000 hectares and promote to sell seedling to the farmer of 48,000
hectares, explain the maintain way and buy back for Advance Agro Public Co.,Ltd. to
produce pulp and paper about 3 million tons/year.
The second investor is the Siam Cement Group by the Siam Forestry
Co.,Ltd. that it has the farmers who is the member for 25,600 hectares and non-member in
150 km. around the company for 40,000 hectares. The members will receive the seedling
from tissue culture and grafting, which the company guarantee to buy back. The wood’s price
depends on the diameter; 2-4 ins. cost $ 16.7 per ton, wider than 4 ins. cost $ 18.9 per ton and
less than 2 ins. cost $ 12.2 per ton. At present, the Siam Cellulose Co.,Ltd. use them for pulp
and paper production.
3.2 Teak
As mentioned above that the government proceed the forest plantation for
wood industry after promulgated the Forest Plantation Act 1992. The Royal Forest
Department (RFD) hold a project of the Farmer Extension for Forest Plantation for 5 years
(1994-1998). By the next phase, the name was change to the Economic Forest Plantation
Extension Project (1999-2005), 12 years. The extension target is 1.28 million hectares, but
until now (2000) the planted areas was successfully reforested only 0.37 million hectares.
Teak is popular for planting for 88,000 hectares during 1994-1996.
The government support this project by providing fund 3,000 baht/rai ($
1,875 per hectare) and divide to pay for 5 years : 800, 700, 600, 500, and 400 baht each year.
This project emphasized to plant Thai’s indigenious economic forest tree species. Eucalyptus
did not be planted at the first time because of the combat on this tree specie that will destroy
the environment, but Eucalyptus was enhanced to plant half of the area in the second phase.
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In conclusion, the source of wood in the past was from the natural forests but at
present time most of the natural forest is reserved for environment conservation. Thus, the
recent sources of wood are from the imported wood, Rubberwood and wood from plantation.
The wood from plantation is the thinning wood aged 5-7 years, it was the small wood with 36 ins., diameter, which has more sapwood than heartwood with low strength. And the further
limited utilization were easily damage by fungus and insects, the twist lumber, collapse, and
split end. These problems can be solved by extend the cutting time, until the aged of 15 years.
Except Eucalyptus for pulp and paper production that can be used at the aged of 3 years.
However, it still has a problem for furniture production.
III. Processing and Utilization
Technologies for wood processing and utilization in Thailand can be divided in 2
levels:
1. Primary processing
1.1 Sawing
The ripping with two men frame saw is usually common practice for local
people. Ripping can be done both vertical line and horizontal line. Until now the rural people
still using this kind of sawing. Then chain saw for headsaw or lumber (lumber of coconut
favourably used with chain saw) is introduced. The lumbering with circular saw is mostly
done after headsawing. People make a table for placing circular saw by themselves.
Sometimes rotor of plow machine is used for running circular saw.
At present, mostly of small and large sawmills was permitted from government
have been closed because of logging ban. However it is found that 514 of sawmills and 45 of
sawn timber by man power are still active. (Table 7) (Data Center Division, 1999)
Technology of sawing in the past solid wood loss into sawdust during using
circular saw 50-60 %. To solve this problem many sawmills have replaced circular saw by
band saw. At present, only the large log was imported to saw. Small log of Rubberwood and
wood from government extension plantation play important role in sawing which have the
different qualification from the wood of natural forest such as growth stress of small wood
due to twist and split of lumber. Therefore, technology of sawing should be develop for the
quantity and quality of lumbering.
In Thailand the small log from plantation being used, has diameter of 4-10 ins.
(Table 8) but log with 8 ins. of diameter is appropriate for sawing. The wood will be cut into
short lumber of 1.5-2.0 m. length (small log, diameter 6-9 ins., recovery rate 25-35 %, which
bow and split lumber, wood working remain yield 20-25 % of log)
That above dimension of wood is appropriate for some wood products. If big
size is required, small lumber should be jointed to bigger the length, thickness, and width
dimension. However lumbering of small log less than 5-7 ins. of diameter is possible, but
providing a little yield because of a lot of headsaw and lapwood.
To decrease wood failure of small log from growth stress, split and twist,
girdling stand tree (to hew a tree around the trunk only to make it dry out) is employed or
using chemical spray its leaves for stunting tree. These many techniques to prevent wood
failure such as drying wood is a concept to decrease moisture content, for decreasing stress of
wood, decreasing split after cutting with tighten by string, flintcoat or printcoat treatment at
the end of log, soaking wood in water, cross section at the end of log stamped by S or C iron,
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drilling some hole from bark to pith of log, grooping along of log from bark into pith. That
process techniques are successful only for some. The result of girdled experiment was the
decreasing of 10 % of twist and 19 % of the split end.
The technique of sawing for small log with balance cutting, sawing right and
left distance equal from pith together by twin band saw to release the stress of log equal
opposite side can make lumber be straight, no twist. Saw types are balance saw, gang saw, or
sash gang saw. (Wisuttitappakul, 1999)
There are many techniques to prevent twist or end split, this technique is used
during sawing process by not sawing through the trunk, allowing unleave at the end. Then
fasten it with a piece of wire or drive a nail at the end of log. Unfasten it if to be used.
Immediately soaking after lumbering 1-2 days, then seasoning can also make a lumber
straight, no twist, and no the end split. Another technique is sawing log into the large size
lumber, then sawing again into small size or required size if needed.
Piling is important for quality control of lumber for no twist, no bow, and no
end split. Piling is done by pressing the top of pile by weight. To adjust bow lumber both of
the end of lumber will be supported, then using gravity force pulls it forwards to make a
straight lumber.
1.2 Wood preservation
Usually, fast growing species or small log are damaged by fungus, insects and
shipworms. Therefore, it can be used only short period about 1-2 years. Wood preservation
can save wood for long period 3-5 times to normal. Technology of wood preservation in
Thailand can be divided into 2 types as followings :
1.2.1 Non chemical treatment
Techniques employed are as follows: soaking in water, singe, and using
wood in open air, employ concrete bed to support poling of house. Moreover, there is a study
on termite prevention by embeding gravel at bottom holes before poling.
1.2.2 Chemical treatment
1.2.2.1 Non-pressure treatment
1) Brush or spray treatment
For wood drying, pole and round wood should be debarked
before brushing or spraying chemical substances. Treat all of the trunk or specific at ground
level area (below 30-40 cm. and upper 60-70 cm.). Should brush or spray for chemical
treatment more than 1 time. Chemical treatment should use oil or water borne preservation for
example tar oil, solexnum and other wood oil coat because of permanent into wood.
2) Dipping
Dry wood is more preferable than green wood. 2-3 min. for
dipping and then printcoat or lacquer replace again. This method is appropriate for nonpermanent or interior wood working.
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3) Soaking
For both green wood and dry wood, but dry wood property is
better than green wood. This method can be used in both round wood and lumber. Round
wood should be debarked. Wood soaking must be done under level of chemical solution all
the time for ½-3 days, depending upon wood species, then seasoning not less than 7 days.
Type of chemical is water borne preservation. Tank of soaking can be made from a long line
split half of 200 litres of gasoline tank with connected end, that looks like a half cylinder tank,
or dig into ground and supported by plastic sheet to prevent percolation of chemical solution.
1.2.2.2 Vacuum and pressure treatment
This method use vacuum machine and pressure to put chemical
solution into lumber. Normally, this method is for dry lumber, but Rubberwood lumber must
be green because of easily damage by fungus and insects. First step of the process is using a
vacuum at 500 mm.Hg., 15 min., then increase the pressure and inject chemical solution into
lumber at 150-170 lb./sq.in., 45-55 min. (full cell treatment of Rubberwood 1.5 ins.
thickness). The favour chemical solution is water borne preservative because it’s cheaper than
others e.g. CCA for wood used exterior, spool of electric or telephone wire, and Boron for
wood furniture.
1.3 Drying
1.3.1 Seasoning or air drying
Moisture content of wood after seasoning is varied. To reduce moisture
content to be less than 25 % need a long period. Logs from this method are used for
construction e.g. pole, post, and piling of log before wood chipping.
For small log, more than 6 ins., diameter, seasoning in dry season take
time 4-6 months for decrease moisture content into 25-30 %. Wood diameter more than 30
cm. should be lumbering before seasoning. Size of pile should be not more than 2 m. width
because of lumber at central of pile will be delay dried and damaged by fungus or insects.
Piling is not limit of high depend on stability of pile. Space each pile should be not lesser than
30 cm. for air circulated and convenient to transfer or piling.
Pile should be high from ground more than 30 cm. Size of stick for
lumber pile is usually used 1 x 1 ins. or 1 x ½ ins. Easily drying and less defect wood species
e.g. Teak and SaDuaTium (Azadirachta excelsa (Jack) Jacobs) should be used 1½ x 1½ ins. of
stick, and each piece of stick at the same vertical position line. In rain season should be piling
under construction or roofing for prevented fungus damage, emphasize Rubberwood and
Coniferous sp.
1.3.2 Kiln drying
Kiln drying can be control temperature and relative humidity for dried
wood and rapidity more than seasoning 10-30 times.
Wood drying should be used two upper methods, seasoning for decreasing
moisture content in wood lesser than 30 % by air circulated from a fan in the hall (The hall
has 3 wall, that a fan on wall only one side). This is predrying for 1 month, then drying with
kiln drying for 1 month.
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Lumber should be control drying at surface, not rapidity dried. Suitable
temperature and relative humidity can be control with kiln drying. If moisture content in
wood and surface of wood are difference more than 5 %, wood stress due to wood failure, e.g.
bow, case hardening, and honeycombing. But some wood failure occurred from natural
property of wood, e.g. grain and age, that fast growing species such as Eucalyptus and
SaDuaTium, due to stress in wood, emphasize high growth stress of young tree. That is easily
the end split. Therefore, the end of lumber should be printcoat for decreased evaporate
moisture from wood. In addition to, piling should be used stick at the end of lumber and
pressed on the top by weight.
2. Secondary processing
2.1 Furniture manufacturing
Furniture factory in Thailand has 6,352 factories. The Majority of products are
group of sofa, table, chair, and shelf etc. Both of natural and artificial colour are produce.
Furniture can be divided into 2 characters as follows :
1) Stable furniture or Furnished furniture
Almost of stable furniture produce for domestic consumption.
2) Knock down furniture
Almost of knock down furniture produce for export.
Almost of manufacturing furniture is common produce by skilled labor more
than unskilled labor. Even though large factories make for exported furniture by machine
(imported machine) but skilled labor still important for produce together. Therefore, furniture
manufacturing can be divided into 3 productions as followings :
1) Usage skilled labor more than unskilled labor
This production must done by skilled labor for difference or same style of
furniture e.g. Thai style and Louis style, but difference of design, carving, jointing, and grain
pattern etc. Thus, processing depend on capability of each factory. But the same is quality of
wood, suitable moisture content from drying for stability of furniture.
2) Manufacturing by machine
To produce mass products with the same standard for export.
3) Manufacturing by machine more than skilled labor
All of products are make by machine, without skilled labor finishing,
except sanding and coating. It is only produced by factory design. This manufacturing is
produce mass products
2.2 Wood-based panels manufacturing
2.2.1 Veneer and plywood manufacturing
Manufacturing of plywood was started up in 1957 (Thaiplywood
Co.,Ltd., established by the Forest Industry Organization, FIO). Exported veneer was started
up production in 1971 (Thaichipboard Co.,Ltd.). Nowadays, number of veneer and plywood
factories have 14 and 21, respectively. The majority of plywood factories produce veneer by
themselves. Technology of processing of veneer and plywood in Thailand is normally of
import machine from foreign. Today, the shortage of large log, due to some factory changed
peeling machine from 8 ft. to 4 ft. length and slicing machine for the thinnest veneer, 0.1 mm.
thickness.
Manufacturing of veneer and plywood in Thailand face rare of wood
raw material, high of cost, that effective to reduce production. Some factory imported log for
veneer production and re-export or overlay on wood products of factory.
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However, plywood are difference quality, that high quality for exterior,
standard for interior and low quality for non-permanent e.g. advertising board. Only one
company (Thaiplywood Co.,Ltd.) asked for plywood standard from the Industry Standard
Office of Thailand.
2.2.2 Composite board manufacturing
Raw material of composite board in Thailand produce from import log,
plantation and lapwood from logging or sawmill. Flooring (parquet and mosaic parquet) and
block board are common technology.
At present, the manufacturing of flooring produce by finger joint
technique. Raw materials are Rubberwood and wood from plantation. Diameter of wood
should be more than 6 ins. Wood from plantation are Teak and Eucalyptus, rejected wood in
flooring production 20-25 % and 50-60 %, respectively. Colour coating need to production
because of still sapwood (cream colour), that difference from heartwood (dark colour).
2.2.3 Fiberboard manufacturing
Manufacturing of fiberboard in Thailand has two types : Hardboard and
Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF). All of Hardboard in Thailand produce with wet process.
Raw materials are Eucalyptus and wood from plantation e.g. KraTinTaPa (Acacia sp.) and
also Bagasse. Raw materials of MDF are Rubberwood, Eucalyptus, KraTinTaPa, and Bagasse
(MDF, which Bagasse used the first factory of the world). (Table 9)
2.2.4 Particleboard manufacturing
Manufacturing of Particleboard in Thailand was started up in 1958. But
particleboard came to popular when established another large factory in 1986. Particleboard
used as raw material for construction and furniture production because of decreasing of solid
wood and logging ban in 1989. Due to particleboard used increasing in wood working.
Nowadays, particleboard has 19 factories, total capacity 1,423,900
cu.m./year. Extruded pressed processing used only one factory (Thaichipboard Co.,Ltd.).
Another factory used platen pressed processing. Raw materials are Rubberwood, Eucalyptus
and Bagasse. 3 layers sheet, 12 and 16 mm. thickness, is characteristically of particleboard in
Thailand. (Table 5) (Oonjittichai, 1998)
2.2.5 Wood cement board manufacturing
Manufacturing of Wood Wool Cement Board in Thailand was started
up in 1956. Raw material is SomPhong (Tetrameles nudiflora R.Br.), import from Myanmar,
today. The capacity of this factory is 1,000 tons/year. Then, in 1989, Wood Cement
Particleboard produced from Eucalyptus. In 2000, Wood Cement Fiberboard, plank for wall
house, produced from cement approximately 90 % and recovered paper approximately 10 %
with mixed a little asbestos.
2.3 Pulp and paper manufacturing
Manufacturing of pulp in Thailand produce from non-wood (e.g. Straw,
Bamboo, Kenaf and Bagasse) and wood, hardwood, such as Eucalyptus. That is short fiber, so
Thailand must imported long fiber also recovered paper.
Technology of pulp and paper processing depend on imported machine. But
there are developing other raw material for using in pulp production. In Thailand, wood
material is only Eucalyptus. All pulp factories produce with chemical process except one
factory produced pulp with semichemical process (Siam Cellulose Co.,Ltd.), yield
approximately 45 %.
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In 1996, manufacturing pulp has 6 factories. Total capacity of short fiber is
626,000 tons. Manufacturing paper has 46 factories, total capacity of 2,842,000 tons. The
products are kraft paper 50 % and other papers : printing-writing paper, paperboard,
newsprint paper, household and sanitary paper etc.
2.4 Charcoal production
Charcoal in Thailand produced for household by local people. It’s produce with
soil or rice husk mound and mud beehive. Commercial charcoal produce usually with brick
beehive. Now, lapwood of Eucalyptus from plantation widespread produced charcoal and
briquett for export. In addition to, activated carbon produced from charcoal for industry.
Each year, Thailand has consumption charcoal 3 million kg. Demand of
charcoal for export is large scale. Recovery rate of charcoal production is 30-35 % of wood at
oven dry weight. Pile of Eucalyptus 1 cu.m. can be produced charcoal 120 kg. Heat value of
Eucalyptus charcoal is 7.35 kg.cal/g. The highest heat value is charcoal from KongKang
(Rhizophora sp.), 7.50 kg.cal./g.
IV. Markets and Socio-Economics
The important informations on the marketing and socio-economics of Thailand‘s
wood industry are as follows :
At present, the need in wood consumption in Thailand is about 3-4 million
cu.m./year. However, in 1999 the quantity of 50,200 cu.m. of domestic production is not meet
the demand, therefore it have to import as follows : (Table 2) (Data Center Division, 1999)
1. Log and sawntimber : log 0.47 million cu.m. cost $ 80.8 million and sawntimber
1.25 million cu.m. cost $ 169.9 million, total imported quantity 1.72 million cu.m. and total
cost $ 250.7 million.
2. Wood productions : plywood, particleboard, fiberboard, parquet, fuelwood,
charcoal, furniture, door, window, etc total cost $ 28.9 million.
3. Pulp 438,525 tons of total cost $ 177.5 million.
4. Paper 365,208 tons of total cost $ 362.8 million.
The averaged increasing of Thailand’s population is 1.2 % per year. In 1985,
Thailand has 53 million populations and increased to 61 million in 1999, therefore, the
demand in wood and wood products consumption increased every year. The country’s
capacity to produce and reforest cannot meet the demand so the price of wood and wood
products still high.
The distribution of factories settlement and labors ; the factory which used wood as
raw materials are the sawmills and the wood working factories, total 6,911 factories. 6,342 of
furniture factories situated in Bangkok 38 %, central region 33 %, northern region 8 %
northeastern region 10 % and southern region 10 %. 89 % of these factories are the small
factory, 10 % of medium factories and only 1 % of the large factories. The capital investment
cost $ 1,085 million, which 176,000 labors were employed. 262 of 2,692 furniture factories
are the factories which used Rubberwood for furniture production and employ 68,992 labors.
(Service Extension Division, 2000)
The proportion of the capital in furniture and wood products industry composed with
wood, raw materials, cost 45 %, labor cost 30 %, other raw materials cost 15 %, and others
expense cost 10 %.
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Eucalyptus wood marketing ; from the research found that Eucalyptus aged 5 years
gave wood 16.65 tons/rai. The total capital which included seedling, maintenance, the
fertilizer, felling, and transportation were 8,140 baht/rai. The selling price of log was 850
baht/ton, thus, the income was 14,152 baht and the net profit was 6,012 baht, that the
averaged income per year total 1,200 baht/rai. (Table 10)
The branches from Eucalyptus plantation can be produced charcoal. The cost in
charcoal producing was 150 baht/cu.m. 1 cu.m.. of fuelwood can be produced 3 sacks of
charcoal which cost 100 baht/sack. The fuelwood which cannot be produced the charcoal will
be cut for 50 cm. length and sell as a bunch of fuelwood, each bunch contained 10-20 pieces
of fuelwood cost 5 baht. (Table 11)
The price of Eucalyptus for pole/post, fiberboard, pulp, and chipwood for export, 2-4
ins. diameter cost 550-1,000 baht/ton and 6-9 ins. diameter cost 1,000-1,400 baht/ton. (Table
12)
The price of Eucalyptus and SonPraDiPat (Casuaria junghuhniana Miq.) pole at the
diameter and length of 3 x 3 m., 4 x 4 m., 5 x 5 m., and 6 x 6 m. cost are 15, 40, 80, and
150 baht, respectively.
The price of the thinning teak wood from the FIO at girth 30-140 cm. and 2-6 m.
length will cost 2,100-18,400 baht/cu.m. (Table 13)
To import and export Thailand’s wood products for the wood industry can be divided
as follows : (Export Service Division, 2000) (Table 14, 15, 16)
1. Lumber industry
Since the government promulgated to ban on logging in 1989, 682 sawmills have
to import logs, especially Teak from the neighbouring countries such as Laos, Cambodia, and
Myanmar. In 1999, the imported value cost $ 51.11 million. The lumber of Rubberwood,
Dipterocarpus sp., Pterocarpus sp., and Coniferous sp. which were imported from Malaysia in
lumber more than logs. Moreover, Oak, Cherry, and Pine were imported from the United
State of America (U.S.A.), some of these wood imported for used in furniture production and
construction.
In 1998, the imported value was $ 162.42 million which decreased because of the
important imported sources of wood such as Myanmar has the policy to ban on logging, and
Malaysia use nearly all the lumber in their furniture production so they didn’t have any
quantity to export. Nevertheless, Thailand still imported a few quantity of Cork, fuelwood,
and charcoal. The important to import lumber are ASEAN (80 %), U.S.A. (12 %), European
Union (2 %), and other countries (6 %).
Lumber and wood panel products exported was increased in 1997, the exported
value was $ 103.23, the important country to export were Japan (22 %), ASEAN (15 %), and
U.S.A. (4 %).
Most of the exported lumber were veneer from Rubberwood, particleboard, MDF
(the government forbid to export thickness teak lumber) and the parts of furniture both
finished furniture and furniture parts such as table leg and chair leg, which produced from
Rubberwood and skirtings which produced from Teak and Pterocarpus sp.
10
2. Furniture industry
Thailand‘s furniture production start from the household crafting, which use Teak
and other wood. After banned on logging in 1989 some producer use Rubberwood for
furniture production and changed the design from the finished furniture to knock down
furniture. At present, 1,720 producers produced furniture from hardwood 15 %, most of them
produced for domestic market, the furniture’s styles were built in furniture, and free standing,
65 % produced from Rubberwood, and 15 % produced from plywood, Bamboo and Rattan.
Rubberwood furniture was developed the design and production technology with the
reasonable price in white color, which always called “White Teak”.
In 1998, the total exported furniture value was $ 434.92 million, 60 % of
Rubberwood furniture, 30 % of particleboard and MDF furniture and 10 % of hardwood
furniture. The exported countries were Japan (43 %), U.S.A. (36 %), European Union (11 %),
ASEAN (2 %) and other countries (8 %).
3. Wood products industry for household
Most of the products for household were the handicraft such as the plates
produced from Rubberwood, the decoration : frame, carved wood, which always produced
from Mango wood and Teak.
The exported of wood products for household were 80 % and used in domestic
only 20 %. This industry faced the short of wood and the decreasing in export, thus, the
producer developed the product design and quality by decorated the furniture with metal,
resin, and plastic, which China and Malaysia, the important furniture competitor, still do not
develop their furniture’s design to complete against Thailand in the world market.
The exported wood products for household in 1989 were $ 293.21 million, the
important export countries ; U.S.A. (44 %), European Union (30 %), Japan (14 %), ASEAN
(1 %) and other countries (11 %).
The import value in 1989 were $ 34.88 million by import plywood, veneer and
other products from ASEAN (52 %), (especially Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos, and Myanmar),
European Union (16 %), U.S.A. (6 %), Japan (2 %) and other countries (23 %).
4. Pulp and paper industry
Thailand has 6 pulp producers which the total production capacity was 626,000
tons/year by using domestic raw materials : Staw, Bagasse, Kenaf, Bamboo, and Eucalyptus.
At present, the produced paper were kraft paper, printing-writing paper, paperboard, and
newsprint paper, which will be mixed with the imported long fiber and recovered paper.
Recently, the over capacity in producing is in the high quantity because of the
economic slowdown, thus, the demand on pulp and paper in the industry sector was
decreased. Because of the cost in production still high, the tax for the important raw materials
such as pulp, chemical, the machine’s spare parts, still high, the government decreased the
imported tax for paper import only.
Nevertheless, the trend to export is getting better since 1996 that the value of
export decreased because of the slowdown of the world market. In 1998, the value of
thailand’s export pulp, paper, and paper products such as household and sanitary paper were $
463.58 million, the important market are ASEAN (27 %), European Union (18 %), U.S.A. (3
%) and Japan (1 %).
11
The capacity in pulp production in Thailand cannot meet the demand, thus,
Thailand have of import pulp especially long fiber from U.S.A., Canada, and Africa total
value cost $ 168.95 million and also import paperboard, box, kraft paper, printing-writing
paper, newsprint paper, and sanitary paper etc. In 1988, the total value were $ 35.92 million.
V. Policy and Legislation
Policy and legislation concern with processing and utilization of wood in Thailand are
as followings :
1. Forestry Act
The affected of forest act to Thailand’s wood industry have to consider from the
past that the government had promulgated the act to protect the selection cutting and illegal
logging. The mentioned law did not support to the present wood industry development such
as the settlement of sawmill, which will spend 6 months or 1 year for the permission from the
RFD and the Department of Factory. Moreover, permit to saw the timber in the day time only,
and the gate will be opened while working, the limitation time on the permit of transmitted
and product license which cannot finish the customs procedure on time, and the lumber
accounts will be updated everyday.
The Forest Act 1941 still promulgated the addition act, which grew the complex
for industrials practiced. This law never be improved for 60 years. Because of the act
improvement is quite difficult and more complex, thus the promulgated the new act is the
success way. The Forest Plantation Act 1992 promoted the forest plantation and protected the
investor’s right. But some parts still grew the complex problem to the farmer such as the
demotion on planting the foreign fast growing tree species, the wood labeling, the settlement
of sawmill, and forbid chain saw using in cutting.
2. National Forest Policy
The National Forest Policy was created in 1983 for the long term in forest
resources management and development. The approach for the government organization and
private sector to proceed together. The policy enhanced the wood industry to develop the
forest by promoting the government organization and private sector to reforest for domestic
consumption, the industrial benefit, export, enhanced the community forest plantation,
reforest in the state land, in the farm, or reforest for the household purposed. Moreover,
enhanced the settlement of the integrated wood industries and the pulp mill for the wood
residue utilization, and to use other materials instead of wood.
3. Thai Forestry Sector Master Plan
Thai Forestry Sector Master Plan was formulated during 1990-1993 by the
technical assistant of the Finland government. The plan indicated the approach in promoting
the rural industry, non-wood products industry and reforestation the sources of wood within
2010. The strategic emphasized the industry to promote the wood industry for solving the
problem of the short of wood and strengthen the confidence on the raw materials by the
management of forest plantation, community forest and private forest.
4. Funding support
The policy for the funding support to the forest plantation by loaned from the
Agriculture and Cooperatives Bank but the rules and conditions is complex and the fund from
the Japan Oversea Economic Cooperative Funding (OECF). In conclusion, the funding which
the farmer received was the forest plantation support funding 3,000 baht/rai from the Farmer
Extension for Forest Plantation Project.
12
The National Rubberwood Policy Committee take responsibility on Rubberwood
plantation by support the Rubberwood industry and promoted the capability on using the
Rubberwood products for domestic consumption and export. The obstacle of law or any rule
have to be improved and enhanced the one stop service for asking for permission to the
factory settlement and exported Rubberwood. To indicate the target on gene improvement for
the quantity not less than 55 cu.m./rai (22 cu.m./rai, at present). The Rubberwood Replanting
Aid Fund supported fund 6,800 baht/rai for replanted the new Rubberwood species.
5. The composed cooperatives
The government support the forest plantation farmer to compose and set the
cooperatives in each province. There are 30 cooperatives, at present (Thailand has 76
provinces). The targets of the cooperatives are for log selling and wood industries for
producing to support domestic demand and export. 7 cooperatives set the sawmill and
produce wood working which in the near future the wood products from the cooperatives will
play the important role in domestic and aboard.
The wood industry investors set the Thailand Develop the Economic Forest
Plantation and Wood Industry Society which composed with the Private Forest Plantation
Cooperatives, the Wood Dealer Society, the Sawmill Society, the Thai Furniture Society, the
Forestry Faculty Alumni Society, the state enterprises (FIO and Thaiplywood Co.,Ltd.), and
other private companies. One of the target of this cooperatives is to solve the problem and any
obstacle on the forestry business.
6. Reformation in the Industrial Structure
The investor faced the problem on the mentioned forest law and the export
competition. Then the Ministry of Industry hold a meeting to discuss for the new structure as
follows :
The problem on Thailand’s wood products and furnitur e i ndustry
1. The improper rule and practiced on the wood from natural forest, wood from
the plantation and imported wood of the responsible office did not support the industry and
need to modified.
2. Development the marketing by contact with the imported country still weak.
3. The lower quality production, which wasted the raw material made the higher
cost per unit and lost the chance in having advantage over the competition chance.
4. Lack of new technique in machine maintenance for the proper benefit.
5. Lack of the product development.
6. Lack of the employee quality, especially the product designer for the export
market.
7. Lack of the continually industry to support the product Line such as fitting,
packaging, thus, the producer have to expand the production Line which will be the charge of
investment.
8. The hardwood for furniture production and construction have to be imported
that increased the cost and decreased the competition ability.
From that brain storm, they considered the weak and strong points of Thailand’s
wood industry and create the strategies for the following vision :
1. Thailand is going to be one of the important of the world export furniture and
wood products, the export value increased 3 times of the stable value in 1997.
2. The quality control of processing of wood industry and wood products in
Thailand, that is acceptable by the world standard (50 % of the factory will be ISO 9000
certified)
3. The brand name of Thailand’s products is acceptable in worldwide market.
13
4. There will be the strong and specialize support and integrated industries.
5. Wood furniture industry and wood products of Thailand express good image in
forestry consumption and green industry such as using the ISO 14000 standard.
6. Reforested for the raw materials and the forest management system for
replacing the imported wood for construction and the imported wood management to meet the
demand on raw materials of the lumber industry in the future.
7. Thailand will be appointed the wood products and furniture design center of
Asia.
7. Tariff measurement
The tariff measurement appointed the tax of exported log and lumber 40 %, and
10 % for the unsuitable wood for wood production. The imported wood products can be
locally produced is 20 % and 10 % of them which cannot locally produced.
VI. Institutional Capacity
Research in wood processing and utilization of Thailand forestry was started, when
Non-wood Research Division (Forest Products R&D Division, at present) established in 1935.
Then, Forestry school (high school level in Phrae province) was established in 1936 (closed in
1993). Afterwards, Kasetsart University (in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand) the academy of
forestry and agriculture was established in 1943, then R&D in wood utilization was increased
and more important. In 1996, Kasetsart University set up the Pulp/paper and Wood
Composites Research Unit to study the specification of wood products.
Nowadays, there are several offices manage R&D in wood utilization can be divided
into 2 sectors such as Planning and Operating sector.
1. Planning sector
1.1 The National Research Committee Office set up the policy for government
officer research in 4 directions :
1) Direction of research for self dependence country
2) Direction of research for improvement in productivity and value added
3) Direction of research for improvement in quality of life, social, and
environment
4) Direction of research for information reception in country ability
There are many programs and plans in each direction to be set strategies and
adjust in wood processing and utilization research for the purpose as followings :
1) Integrated production of wood.
2) Maintain business in wood products for Thai life style.
3) Create new ideas in wood products and change the status from consumer
to producer.
4) Improve local technology by applying technology from abroad to serve
social need.
5) Develop wood production machine.
6) Develop wood engineering and wood industry.
7) Increase productivity and value added for export in wood products.
8) Increase high efficiency in production process and decrease loss in wood
production.
9) Create international design in wood products and packages.
10) Develop utilization of local wood.
11) Achieve information in cost of material support in wood production.
12) Consume wood material, which is rare with the highest utility.
14
13) Produce wood product from local industry.
14) Achieve suitable method and process to control pollution from wood
products or wood industry.
15) Achieve the effects from wood technology and wood products usage to
health, life style, and environment.
16) Develop potential in wood production to serve market demand of local
and export.
17) Develop wood production for value added.
18) Achieve wood science and technology information to compare with the
international information.
19) Develop the ability of management in wood production by local
technology.
20) Develop the ability in technology transfered from abroad and develop
imported technology of wood production.
1.2 The Forestry Research Office set up 3 policy of planning in R&D as follows :
1) Study to R&D for forest conservation and protection plan
2) Study to R&D of forest resource processing and utilization plan
3) Study to R&D of sustainable forestry management plan
Wood utilization program is appointed for the purpose of developing new
efficient technology for local wood sp. instead of imported wood.
2. Operating sector
2.1 Forest Products R&D Division (FPRD) is directly responsible to study to
products : properties of wood, wood products, wood and non-wood industry, non-wood
utilization, other materials instead of wood, energy from wood or residual agriculture.
Professional staff of FPRD includes 38 of graduates, 22 of master degrees, 3 of Ph.D. and 140
of permanent employees are total 203 persons.
At present, direction in study to supported small wood utilization from
plantation and residual agriculture to add raw material of wood industry. In addition to, FPRD
study with wood industrial company.
2.2 Kasetsart University (KU) study to wood utilization in 2 units are as
followings :
2.2.1 Forest Products Division, Faculty of Forestry, the majority to produce
graduate in wood industry for government office and emphasize wood industrial company.
Professional staff of organization includes 3 of graduates, 7 of master degrees, 2 of Ph.D. are
total 12 lecturers.
Each year, 25 student are graduated of wood science and technology. In
this year, Forest Products Division design pulp and paper technology branch for produce 25
graduates per year.
Beside, this organization study to design, test properties of finished
furniture from industry, bamboo panel, and defiber by steam explosion for fiberboard
processing, properties of wood raw material and processing for pulp and paper industry etc.
2.2.2 Pulp/paper and Wood Composites Research Unit was established in
1996, supported by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Study to wood and
residual agriculture, developing new technology for pulp and paper, and wood composite
15
board. That study with lecturer, student, and government or company wood products
researcher for supported small and local wood industries.
2.3 Company of wood industry has R&D unit, only large factory. The main target
of study for received product standard and decrease production cost. Some issue they study
with FPRD and KU.
VII. Overview and Conclusion
Thailand covers a land area of 51,311,502 hectares with a population of
approximately 61.7 million. Forest areas are about 12,972,200 hectares of 25.28 %, which are
conserved for environmental balance. However, forest degradation and deforestation still
occur in some parts of the country due to poverty, low agricultural productivity and skewed
land distribution. RFD has launched many projects to increase forest lands to 40 % of the
whole country such as reforestation project, community forest project etc. As the government
is trying to increase the forest area, the need to use timber, wood and forest products still
remain.
Thailand wood consumption is 0.2 cu.m./year/person or 12.34 million cu.m./year.
After logging ban in 1989, wood consumption such as log, sawntimber, wood products, pulp
and paper, which usually employed national product need to be imported over than $ 800
million. (1999)
Rubberwood is cutting from plantation for 5 million cu.m./year. This wood is used for
furniture and wood based panels industries. Eucalyptus plantations, approximately 480,000
hectares are the major source for pulp and paper industries. Teak plantations promoted 10
years ago to private lands have reached an amount of 96,000 hectares and provided wood for
furniture and flooring industries. The trend of using Teak from plantation is also increasing.
However, wood shortage is still a major problem for related industries. At present,
there is an attempt to develop Rubberwood species for timber, high yield of fiber from
Eucalyptus, including to value added for wood from plantation to furniture and flooring
industries. Teak from thinning period is found to be too small and low recovery rate.
For wood industry, concerned factories should have their own plantations for wood
supply. There are two groups private companies who own their plantations. They promote
farmers to be their member to plant fast growing species to supply the factories, especially
Eucalyptus for pulp and paper. The government also promotion the farmers to establish forest
plantation cooperatives in provincial level. The objectives of the cooperatives are to run
forestry business not only selling log but also increasing value added wood product. There are
7 cooperatives nationwide in active and 23 cooperatives more are on their ways.
Thailand has a privilege for plantation due to its location. Only 4-6 years for fast
growing species and 30-40 years for normal trees, harvesting can be done.
The best way to use a tree is to consider how to efficiently use every part of the tree
such as root, stump, log and branches, which manufacturing process has to be employed.
Wood may be dried and preserved to make it strong and last longer time.
Lapwood can be used for tools, wood products, parquet, woodfuel, charcoal and
chipwood. Stumps and branches can be used as woodfuel and chipwood, as well, for large
scale of industries of wood chemical products, pulp and paper, fiberboard, which made from
chipwood through defibration process. Chipwood, also can be dissolved into particle, without
16
defibrator, mixed with resin and cement for particleboard and wood cement board,
respectively.
Timber can be added for highest value by using as veneer or plywood. Core and
lapwood from the veneer process can be used as chipwood. Moreover some parts of wood
from the process can be raw material for carving as well. Small log can be used as poles for
construction.
As mentioned above, the uses of wood will be efficient and intelligent if there are
industries to support or so called “Integrated Wood Industries”. (Figure 2)
R&D on wood utilization conducted by RFD focuses on wood from plantations,
which size is small compared with wood from natural forests. To avoid wasting wood from
sawing process, sawing is developed to decrease the problem of wood twisting, knots or
defect. The process after sawing is also determined such as putting wood into water
immediately 1-2 days before seasoning. Soaking chemical solution is also employed to
preserve wood from termite and fungus. Researches have been carried out on many topics to
find out the best ways to use wood, develop appropriate machines for wood products and
furniture industry.
High level of R&D for large industries has also been conducted both in government
and private sectors such as Kasetsart University, RFD or private companies. Problems in
wood processing are considered to make a better benefit and high recovery rate of wood
during any process. Wood products will supply the market with high quality and along with
environmental awareness.
Due to economic crisis in Thailand, last 5 years there was decreasing of wood and
wood products. On the other hand export of such was increasing. This may be results from
industrial and economic reform.
From trees to timber, wood products, pulp and paper many kinds of factories are
concerned. Wood industry has a large number of people who concern and depend on,
including related industries who make use of the products from wood industry, especially
construction and printing media industries. Thus, wood industry is one of the major sectors
who support national economic.
Thailand has unfortunately there is still no committee body on the national level for
wood industry launched a policy on wood industrial promotion on 4 levels as follows :
1. Household level
2. Local or community level
3. Private or business level
4. State enterprise level such as FIO and the Thaiplywood Co.,Ltd.
At present, there is a concept to encourage local people to live on their feet. The
attitudes of using local products or their household products are arising. The government has
also launched a campaign namely “One village, one product” to promote indigenous
knowledge to create their own specific product. Such policies are trying to mitigate the
economic crisis which affect the local communities.
For international role on wood industry, Thailand has joined the Commission on
Sustainable Development (CSD) to pursue sustainable wood industries and make an
agreement done on February 1997 in New York, following the proposal of Open-ended adhoc
17
Intergovernmental Panel on Forests (IPF) to conduct sustainable forest management for wood
industry in all aspect; business, environment, products and services from the forest.
Reference
Benjachaya, S. 1989. The Future of Wood-base Panel Industry. Mai-ud-bangna J.
18(6): 20-30.
Benjachaya, S. 1993. Golden Teak (Tectona grandis Linn.f.) is Siam Teak, Sentangkaset J.
1(1): 8-13.
Benjachaya, S. 1998. The Research of Wood Cement Board. Royal Forest Department,
Bangkok. 25 p.
Benjachaya, S., T. Jirayut, P. Amonchot, L. Suthiwilairatana, C. Chuayna, B. Sompoh and
W. Sonthivanit. 2000. Evaluation on Utilization Potential of Melaleuca cajuputi
Powell, pp.33-41. In The 38th Kasetsart University Annual Conference, Bangkok.
Chiang Mai Provincial Forest Office. 1997. Chiang Mai Provincial Forest Office in the
century of Royal Forest Department. Chiang Mai Provincial Forest Office,
Chiang Mai. 128 p.
Committee of Agro-industry Extension and Development. 1999. Master Plan for Agroindustry Development. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Bangkok. 96 p.
Data Center Division. 1996. Forestry Statistics of Thailand in 1996. Royal Forest Department,
Bangkok. 149 p.
Data Center Division. 1999. Forestry Statistics of Thailand in 1999. Royal Forest Department,
Bangkok. 153 p.
Export Service Division. 2000. Situation of Export of Wood Products. Seminar on Export of
Wood from Plantation, 4 February 2000, Kasetsart University. 23 p.
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). 2001. Forest map.
http://www.fao.org/forestry/fo/country/index.jsp?geo_id=41&lang_id=1, September
1, 2001.
Forest Industry Organization. 2001. Price of thinning teak from plantation of the Forest
Industry Organization. 1 p. (information sheet)
Forest Products R&D Division. 1988. The Utilization of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh.
Royal Forest Department, Bangkok. 14 p.
Forest Products R&D Division. 1999. Basic in Wood Utilization. Royal Forest Department,
Bangkok. 168 p.
Forest Research Office.1998. Status of Rubberwood Utilization and Marketing in Thailand.
Royal Forest Department, Bangkok. 89 p.
Khaovanit, A. 1980. Basic in Wood Industry. Congregated of Agriculture Cooperatives of
Thailand Press, Bangkok. 309 p.
Oonjittichai, W. 1995. Situation on Fiberboard and Particleboard Industry. Royal Forest
Departmant, Bangkok. 6 p.
Oonjittichai, W. 1998. Particleboard Manufactur and Processing. Royal Forest Departmant,
Bangkok. 202 p.
Panyachatruk, P. 2001. State Policy of Forestry and Extension of Plantation for Private sector.
10 p. (Speech paper of deputy of minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry)
Project and Assessment Analysis Division. 2000. Direction and Research Planing for Analyse
the Research Plan. Committee of Research National Office, Bangkok. 25 p.
Promchottikul, W. 1999. Wood Industry in Thailand. Royal Forest Department, Bangkok.
10 p.
Sarikaphuti, Y. 2001. Extension of Economic Tree Species Plantation of Private Secter. 10 p.
(Lecture note)
Wisuttitappakul, S. 1999. Lumbering. Royal Forest Department, Bangkok. 47 p.
18
APPENDIX
19
Figure 1 Map of forest type in Thailand
Source : www.fao.org
20
Preservation
Drying
Branches
Constructed lumber
Furniture
Lumber
Household utensils
Sawmill
Lapwood
Flooring/Parquet
Log
Fuelwood
Wood Chemical
Defibrator
Chipper
Chipwood
Pulp & Paper
Fiberboard
Particleboard
Cement-bonded Particleboard
Stump/Root
Carved wood
Wood-wool Cementboard
Pole/Post
Veneer
Peeling/Slicing
Core/Veneer residue
Figure 2 Model of Wood Utilization
21
Plywood
Table 1 Forest area by type and region of Thailand, 1999
Type of Forest
1. Tropical evergreen forest
2. Mixed deciduous forest
3. Dry dipterocarp forest
4. Pine forest
5. Scrub forest
6. Mangrove forest
7. Swamp forest
8. Bamboo forest
Total (1-8)
9. Rubberwood Plantation Area
Total (1-9)
Note : unit : sq.km.
Source : Data Center Division,1999
North
21,161.00
32,325.61
17,913.79
1,620.36
2.36
0
0
34.20
73,057.32
0
73,057.32
North-east
7,107.46
6,285.99
7,400.67
19.75
0
0
170.05
0
20,983.92
454.20
21,438.12
East
6,428.15
771.94
175.93
0
0
126.58
0
4.82
7,507.42
2,385.36
9,892.78
Central
7,435.45
4,673.41
1,314.88
0
0
54.26
0
2,570.50
16,048.50
40.08
16,088.58
South
10,066.12
0
0
0
0
1,494.75
564.25
0
12,125.12
16,681.63
28,806.75
Total
52,198.18
44,056.95
26,805.27
1,640.11
2.36
1,675.59
734.30
2,609.52
129,722.28
19,561.27
149,283.55
Table 2 Import of wood and wood products of Thailand, 1995-1999
Item
1995
1996
1997
Quantity
Value Quantity
Value Quantity
Value
LLog/Sawntimber
3.5 27,018
3.2 23,519
2.4 18,634
Wood products
2,275
2,242
2,091
Pulp
416,897
9,123
415,810
6,836
414,151
6,595
Paper
520,185 19,407
468,567 17,348
404,004 17,521
Total
57,823
49,945
44,841
Note : Quantity : x 10,000 cu.m. for log/sawntimber, ton for pulp and paper
Value : million baht (45 baht = $ 1)
Source : Data Center Division,1999
1998
Quantity
Value
1.2
8,920
1,404
327,760
7,031
232,750 15,376
32,731
1999
Quantity
Value
1.7 11,283
1,302
438,525
7,987
365,208 16,328
36,900
Table 3 Export of wood and wood products of Thailand, 1995-1999
Item
1995
1996
1997
Quantity
Value Quantity
Value Quantity
Value
Log/Sawntimber
0.81
2,216
0.45
1,946
0.80
2,230
Wood products
- 14,763
- 15,176
- 18,511
Pulp
99,383
1,910
131,509
1,332
102,719
1,375
Paper
239,737
8,316
203,682
4,750
525,715 11,396
Total
27,205
23,204
33,512
Note : Quantity : x 10,000 cu.m. for log/sawntimber, ton for pulp and paper
Value : million baht (45 baht = $ 1)
Source : Data Center Division,1999
1998
Quantity
Value
1.08
2,577
- 25,540
217,079
3,060
925,766 20,526
51,703
1999
Quantity
Value
2.89
4,108
- 29,390
229,682
4,143
978,739 21,017
58,658
Table 4 Forest area by region of Thailand, 1985-1998
Year
North
North-east
1985*
84,126
25,580
1988
80,402
23,693
1989
80,222
23,586
1991
77,143
21,799
1993
75,231
21,473
1995
73,886
21,265
1998
73,057
20,984
Note : unit : sq.km.
Source : Data Center Division, 1999
*Data Center Division, 1996
East
7,990
7,834
7,786
7,691
7,634
7,591
7,507
Central
17,685
17,244
17,223
16,616
16,408
16,288
16,049
22
South
15,485
14,630
14,600
13,449
12,808
12,455
12,125
Total
150,866
143,803
143,147
136,698
133,554
131,485
129,722
%
29.40
28.03
27.95
26.64
26.03
25.62
25.28
Table 5 Particleboard factories of Thailand, 1998
Company
Capacity
(x1,000cu.m./year)
45
123
93
70
60
60
54
45
45
15
9
6.9
1. Durospan Co.,Ltd.
2. Particle planner Co.,Ltd.
3. Thai particleboard Co.,Ltd.
4. MP particleboard Co.,Ltd.
5. GCBC Co.,Ltd.
6. Diichi particle Co.,Ltd.
7. VP wood products Co.,Ltd.
8. Sahachai particleboard Co.,Ltd.
9. Sunparatex Co.,Ltd.
10. Thainamseang wood industry Co.,Ltd.
11. SS furnitex Co.,Ltd.
12. Thaichipboard Co.,Ltd.
13. Molarwood Co.,Ltd.
14. STA particle products Co.,Ltd.
15. Rayong particleboard Co.,Ltd.
16. Phangnga particleboard Co.,Ltd.
17. S. Kijchai Co.,Ltd.
18. Wanachai panel industries Co.,Ltd.
19. Siam riso wood products Co.,Ltd.
Total
Source : Oonjittichai, 1998
75
195
54
60
30
300
84
1,423.9
Raw material
Rubberwood
Rubberwood
Rubberwood
Bagasse
Bagasse
Rubberwood
Rubberwood
Rubberwood
Rubberwood
Rubberwood
Rubberwood
Wood from Mixed
deciduous forest
Rubberwood
Rubberwood
Rubberwood
Rubberwood
Rubberwood
Rubberwood
Rubberwood
Location
(province)
Chachoaengsao
Chonburi
Songkhla
Chaiyaphum
Lopburi
Songkhla
Chachoaengsao
Pathumthani
Suratthani
Nonthaburi
Nonthaburi
Samutprakhan
Samutsakon
Songkhla
Rayong
Phangnga
Rayong
Suratthani
Suratthani
Table 6 Medium density fiberboard (MDF) factories of Thailand, 1995
Company
Capacity
(cu.m./year)
72,500
210,000
94,000
120,000
100,000
1. Khonkaen MDF board Co.,Ltd.
2. Wanachai group public Co.,Ltd.
3. Metro MDF Co.,Ltd.
4. STA group (1993) public Co.,Ltd.
5. Agromats Co.,Ltd.
6. Thaiplywood Co.,Ltd.
90,000
Total
Source : Oonjittichai, 1995
686,500
Raw material
Bagasse
Rubberwood
Rubberwood
Rubberwood
Rubberwood and
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus and
lapwood from
headquarters factory
Location
(Province)
Khonkaen
Chonburi
Kanchanaburi
Songkhla
Prachinburi
Saraburi
Table 7 Sawmills and wood products factories of Thailand, 1995-1999
Item
- Sawmills
- Sawntimber by Man-power
- Wood Working by Machinery
- Wood Working by Man-power
- Plywood*
- Veneer*
- Fiberboard**
- Particleboard**
- Pulp and Paper Mills
- Sawn Timber Shop
- Wood Products Shop
Source : Data Center Division,1999
* Data Center Division,1996
**Oonjittichai, 1995, 1998
Total
mills
514
45
5,745
607
21
14
10
19
52
3,862
4,932
Bangkok
53
0
2,580
4
6
2
1
9
1,071
1,930
23
Classified by Region
Central
North
North-east
171
51
56
14
16
1
1,916
347
448
177
139
217
11
0
0
10
0
0
7
0
1
11
1
40
1
2
1,285
479
729
1,370
778
707
South
183
14
454
70
4
2
1
7
0
298
147
Table 8 Diameter of small log
Local
Diameter
East Canada, Scandinavia and South America
West Canada, West coast Pasific, Central America, New Zealand,
Australia (Coniferous plantation)
North California, Eucalyptus from forest in Australia and wood from
tropical forest zone
Williston, 1981
Thailand
Source : Promchottikul, 1999
ins.
4-10
4-20
cm.
10-25
10-50
12-24
30-60
4-20
4-10
10-50
10-25
Table 9 Hardboard factories of Thailand, 1995
Company
Capacity
(tons/year)
60,000
24,000
1. Thaiplywood Co.,Ltd.
2. Thaicaneboard Co.,Ltd.
Raw material
3. Metrofiber Co.,Ltd.
27,000
4. Agro Line Co.,Ltd.
48,000
Total
159,000
Note : capacity 1 ton = 100 sheets, 3 mm. thickness of Hardboard
Source : Oonjittichai, 1995
Location
(Province)
Bangkok
Kanchanaburi
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus
and Bagasse
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus
Kanchanaburi
Chachoengsao
Table 10 Expense in plantation per rai of Eucalyptus for 5 years of Thailand, 1999
Item
1. Seeding (270 units)
2. Post planting care (5 years)
3. Fertilizer
4. Felling (16.65 tons x 75 baht)
5. transportation (16.65 tons x 225 baht)
Total
Note : 45 baht = $ 1
Source : Forest Products R&D Division, 1999
Cost (baht)
270
2,500
375
1,249
3,746
8,140
Table 11 Charcoal production of lapwood from Eucalyptus of Thailand, 1999
Item
1. Lapwood collection
2. Charcoal production
3. Other expense
Total
Note : 45 baht = $ 1
Source : Forest Products R&D Division, 1999
Cost (baht)
60
75
15
150
Table 12 Price of Eucalyptus log of Thailand, 1999
Item
Pole/Post
Fiberboard
Pulp
Chipwood for export
Diameter and length of log
> ø 2
> ø 2, 1-2 m. length
> ø 4, 1-2 m. length
> ø 1
> ø 2
> ø 2.5
> ø 4
> ø 1.5, 2.0-2.5 m. length
> ø 2, 2.0-2.5 m. length
> ø 4, 2.0-2.5 m. length
> ø 6, 1.0-2.0 m. length
> ø 6, 2.5 m. length
> ø 9, 2.5 m. length
Note : 45 baht = $ 1
Source : Forest Products R&D Division, 1999
24
Cost (baht/ton)
700
850
1,000
350
550
750
800
500
800
850
1,000
1,200
1,400
Table 13 Price of thinning Teak from plantation of the Forest Industry Organization
(FIO) of Thailand, 2001
Group
Girth of log
(cm.)
1
30-40
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
2
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85-89
90-94
95-99
3
100-109
110-119
120-129
130-139
> 140
Note : unit = baht, 45 baht = $ 1
Source : Forest Industry Organization, 2001
Length (m.)
< 2.00
1,900
2,100
2,350
2,600
3,250
3,600
4,450
4,950
6,300
6,950
7,300
7,800
10,000
10,550
11,400
12,500
14,000
14,600
15,700
2.00-3.99
2,100
2,350
2,600
2,900
3,650
4,050
4,950
5,500
6,350
7,000
7,300
8,000
10,000
10,550
11,700
12,850
14,400
15,000
16,200
4.00-5.99
2,350
2,600
2,900
3,200
4,050
4,450
5,500
6,050
6,650
7,300
7,800
8,800
10,550
11,700
12,850
13,900
15,000
16,200
17,400
> 6.00
2,600
2,900
3,200
3,650
4,450
5,000
6,100
6,700
7,300
8,000
8,600
9,750
11,700
12,850
13,700
14,800
16,000
17,200
18,400
1997
469.15
292.81
95.19
92.39
19.97
85.26
103.23
14.78
11.72
76.72
865.19
352.60
1,217.79
1998
434.92
293.21
90.88
100.54
19.11
82.68
109.68
11.57
11.19
86.92
837.81
463.58
1,301.39
1997
67.13
24.28
15.60
27.25
650.08
194.17
449.64
6.27
220.64
937.85
1998
34.88
10.30
9.81
14.78
214.25
51.11
162.42
0.72
168.95
418.08
Table 14 Exports of wood products of Thailand, 1996-1998
Item
1. Wood furniture
2. Wood products
2.1 Wood utensils
2.2 Frame wood
2.3 Carved wood and decorated wood
2.4 Wood equipment construction
3. Wood and wood panel
3.1 Particleboard and MDF (> 6 mm. thickness)
3.2 Veneer
3.3 Other wood panels
Total 1-3
4. Pulp, paper, and paper products
Total
Note : unit : $ million
Source : Export Service Division, 2000
1996
485.90
308.18
102.99
91.66
23.99
89.55
86.50
11.66
8.93
65.91
880.58
177.64
1,058.22
Table 15 Imports of wood products of Thailand, 1996-1998
Item
1. Wood products
1.1 Plywood
1.2 Veneer
1.3 Other wood panels
2. Log, lumber, and other woods
2.1 Log
2.2 Lumber
2.3 Other woods
3. Pulp
Total
Note : unit : $ million
Source : Export Service Division, 2000
1996
87.09
40.65
16.31
30.12
922.58
248.76
662.75
11.07
269.57
1,279.24
Table 16 The comparison of exports and imports of wood products of Thailand, 1996-1998
Item
1. Imports
2. Exports
1-2
Note : unit : $ million
Source : Export Service Division, 2000
1996
1,058.22
1,279.24
-221.02
*******************
25
1997
1,217.79
937.85
279.94
1998
1,301.39
418.08
883.31